The European Union's Counter-Terrorism Strategy as part of Education?

Abstract

After 2015, the EU Counter-terrorism strategy focused on preventing radicalisation into violent extremism (PVE). In this process, education was given the task to prevent radicalisation and strengthen resilience. The rapid growth of PVE programmes in primary schools makes it imperative to issue educational perspectives on the radicalisation discourse. The present case study analyses and defines how and to what extent PVE can be incorporated in primary school. Documentary analysis of the RAN Collection of Approaches and Practices (2019) and semi-structured interviews with the RAN Youth and Education working group practitioners got applied to collect the data. The qualitative content analysis of the data showed that PVE can be incorporated into primary school by using specific strategies and under certain conditions. The research concludes that the educational reality calls on using educational theories to examine the matter and create a joint framework under which PVE practices and programmes will function. Furthermore, approaching primary prevention as part of the educational system's bone structure and not as an additional programme to be implemented for a time period; would set up the idea of a "Resilient Union". Key-words: primary prevention, radicalisation, extremism, violence, education,...