5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014 Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice 24-28 August 2014 in Davos, Switzerland

1. EU project TERRA
European Network based
prevention and learning program

2. Introduction
• European Commission DG Home Affairs
• Preventing radicalisation and recruitment leading
to terrorism
• The role of victims of terrorism and former
radicals in de-radicalisation
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3. Partner
• Association of Victims of March 11th Madrid Spain
• Network of Associations of Victims of Terrorism
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4. Aim of the project
•Enhancing knowledge, awareness and critical
thinking, especially among youth, on the nature of
radicalisation leading to terrorism
•Development of de-radicalisation programs
•Creating specific networks to support the work
•Empower victims of terrorism and former radicals
to develop positive counter narratives
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5. Deliverables
•Network of networks:
– Victims, former radicals, teachers, youth workers,
religious leaders, police officers and rehabilitation
workers, journalists, governments and scholars
•Literature review on ‘staircase to terrorism’
•Overview of best practices in de-radicalisation
programs
•Toolkit for relevant stakeholders
•Filmmaterial with testimonials of victims and
formers and the other stakeholders with a
counternarrative
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6. Moghaddam’s Staircase to terrorism
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7. Psychological aspects
• General perception of the material conditions of a
population, especially fairness and just treatment
“perceived deprivation”
• The feeling to be unable to influence this
situations through legitimate means
• Although legitimate means may be available sub-culture
norms may perceive society als closed
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8. Signals of radicalisation
• Ground floor: open to ideology, searching for
positive identity
• First floor: loosing faith
• Second floor: exploration of radical ideology
• Third floor: isolating himself, dress and behave
prototypically, rebelling against other groups,
adopt another name
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9. Signals of radicalisation
• Fourth floor: members become less noticeable
increasing participation in a shadow world,
prepare an attack, express hate against
‘unbelievers’
• Fifth floor: make a (video) testament, withdraw
money from the bank, expression of moral
exclusion of other groups
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10. Conclusions
• Vast majority of those who radicalise are young
and male 15-25 years
• Teachers of certain subjects are especially
relevant – history, religion, issues of citizenship,
mother tongue and foreign language
• Teaching should focus on competing narratives in
history, awareness of comparative religions and
cooperation between minority and majority
groups, and of minority contributions to society
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11. Conclusions
• Religious leaders: Uniquely placed to observe
atmosphere in the place of worship and provide
positive religious influence for young people
seeking religious identity
• Journalists: Avoiding rhetoric of “us” and “them”,
promoting positive identity for ethnic and
religious minorities, report fairly on
discrimination, avoid feeding the thrill seekers.
• Policy makers: support key figures in their work
offer personal not political concessions to
radicals, allowing them to disengage
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12. Conclusions
• These recommendations are mainly focused on
the first 3 steps of Moghaddam’s staircase
• When moved on to the 4th floor the risk of
loosing their live and committing a terrorist
attack is very high
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13. Conclusions
•Key factors in dis-engagement:not demanding
political concessions, offering social reintegration
measures, the possibility to start a new life (Alonso
2011)
•Dis-engagement is a gradual personal proces, dis-illusionment
with the terrorist group, violence
cannot achieve the political aims ( Gunaratna,
2009, Kassimeris,2011)
•Dis-engagement is not necessarily de-radicalisation
(Reinares, 2011)
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14. TERRAToolkit

15. The goal of the TERRAToolkit
Needs Assessment amongst front line workers
identified:
• Desire for information on how to recognise when
someone may be radicalising
• Need for more connection with other
professionals in the field.
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17. Magda Rooze MA/MBA
m.rooze@impact.arq.org
www.terra-net.eu
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