Preventing Violent Radicalisation in Europe Multidisciplinary Perspectives

This book brings together the latest literature and European experiences on preventing youth violent radicalisation and violent actions in intergroup relations. Youth violent radicalisation is a significant problem within the European context, and requires an exploration of how various social actors can play an active role in preventing radicalisation in minors and young adults. This complex issue needs to be explored through a multidisciplinary approach, and effective operational models are needed in order to tackle it. This book describes the theoretical framework for such an approach in all its facets. The book’s originality lies in its psychosocial and participatory approach, aimed at improving results through professional training and community empowerment for building trusting relationships and educational activities. It also proposes “alternative narratives”, which are a way of representing people and groups within a social context, thereby overcoming stereotyped visions and stigma. This book focuses on participation and communication among stakeholders, social inclusion, strengthening democratic values, and pursuing a proactive instead of a reactive approach to preventing radicalisation. Highly topical, the book will appeal to researchers and students of the social and behavioural sciences interested in youth radicalisation, including social work and social policy, as well as practitioners working within the juvenile justice system.  

1. Defining a Multidisciplinary Approach for Complex Issues: An Introduction.- 2. Theoretical Background of Violent Radicalisation: Research and Interventions from Different Perspectives.- 3. Stigmatisation Processes: The Power of Classifications.- 4. First Steps: Reaching Consensus on Understanding Violent Radicalisation and Utilizing Participatory Approaches for Prevention.- 5. Theatre Projects in Prisons.- 6. Increasing Professionals’ Knowledge and Skills to Deal with Violent Radicalisation.

Patrizia Meringolo is a Professor of Community Psychology at the University of Florence, Italy. She was the Coordinator of the recently concluded interdisciplinary PROVA Project (“Prevention of violent radicalisation and of violent actions in intergroup relations”) at the University of Florence, and the academic initiator of the spin-off “LabCom Research and Action for psychosocial well-being”. Her research focuses on issues related to social and community psychology, health promotion, gender differences, migrations, risky behaviour in young people and substance use and abuse. She is an expert on qualitative methods and participatory action research.