Deradicalising Violent Extremists: Counter-Radicalisation and Deradicalisation Programmes and their Impact in Muslim Majority States

Terrorism remains one of the major threats facing the world community. While literature on the subject is dominated by discussion of the factors leading individuals and groups to join violent extremist, terrorist groups, the question of what can lead them to disengage from such groups is an equally important one. This book is the first study to provide a detailed analysis of both counter-radicalisation and de-radicalisation programmes in eight Muslim-majority states, representing hitherto one of the largest, detailed and most systematic inventory of such programmes in the world. Drawing on detailed case-studies from a number of countries, the book: traces the historical evolution of violent extremist groups and individuals in each country case study, including the period before independence; describes in detail states' response to this phenomenon in each period; provides important empirical analyses for counter-and-de-radicalisation policies and programmes based on extensive field-work and interviews with state officials, former radicals, and members of civil society organisations in each country; provides a first systematic evaluation of the effectiveness and success of these programmes and policies. focuses simultaneously on factors that have led to de-radicalisation at an individual or organisational level, and on the macro environment, both external-global and internal, conducive to counter-radicalisation and de-radicalisation of groups and individuals. The detailed comparative analyses allow the reader to identify conditions, both internal and external, which are conducive to both success and failure of counter-radicalisation and de-radicalisation programmes, and the authors identify best practice and provide policy implications for states facing threats from violent extremism, as well as for international institutions and organisations working in the field of counter-terrorism.