Episode 2: How Conflict Environments Complicate Countering Violent Extremism

Decoding Counterterrorism

Hosts Jessica White and Raffaello Pantucci are joined by Larry Attree and Christopher Hockey to discuss the challenges of implementing programming to prevent and counter violent extremism in active conflict zones.

This conversation looks at the importance of thinking about violent extremism as one element of a wider conflict eco-system, with many of the same factors that drive conflict dynamics also contributing to potentially violent extremist narratives by proscribed groups. Often, the small-scale design of countering violent extremism programmes means they are not well-equipped to address the roots of insecurity. Thus, they arguably need to be connected to the wider range of development, stabilisation, peacebuilding and other efforts implemented in conflict zones. How can we ensure that we are listening to local communities and involving them in addressing the full range of conflict drivers, as we seek to prevent and counter violent extremism?