Word Forum for Democracy

18-20 November 2015, Strasbourg (France)

Prevention to counter radicalisation more effectively at the local level: a debate within the framework of the World Forum of Democracy.

Following the international conference on the prevention of radicalisation and violent extremism, which took place in Aarhus on 18 November, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe organised a discussion workshop on this theme, within the framework of the World Forum for Democracy, on 19 November 2015 in Strasbourg (France). The participants discussed new strategies to prevent the marginalisation behind the radicalisation of immigrant populations. They underlined the importance of a response that strikes a balance between surveillance, dialogue and grassroots assistance.

The Head of the Crime Prevention Unit and Immigration Department of the Danish police force in East Jutland, Sten Sorensen, stressed the importance of collaboration between police services and local communities. By setting up a mentoring system within the community itself, calling on mentors with direct knowledge of Islamic culture, the police have become a social stakeholder whose role is no longer solely repressive. The crime prevention model on which this initiative is based was developed by the World Health Organization in order to combat drugs. It combines an individual approach to people at risk with the creation of a network engaged in surveillance and family support. The mentors programme does not just facilitate the identification of problems; it also enables action to be taken through reintegration into the education system, integration into community life and entrance into the employment market.

The way in which the police are dealing with the return of Swedish nationals who left for Syria during the war is a perfect example of this method. Police intercept them at the airport upon their return from the Middle East and they are interviewed about their possible involvement in the fighting. They are immediately warned that any proof of their involvement could lead to them being detained and to criminal proceedings against them. Once released back into civilian life, they remain under surveillance and their return to normal life is facilitated through the mentors network and the support of local institutions (schools, youth clubs, etc.). They are also given access to psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers.

Creating a more inclusive “social breeding ground” is also a core element of the example presented by Rachel Peric, Deputy Director of the Welcoming America association in the United States. Improving the reception foreign nationals are given is even more important to her as it reminds her of the story of her own family. Her grandparents and parents fled the Holocaust and settled in New York, making their own contribution to the economic growth of the city. “I am convinced,” Ms Peric stated, “that a city thrives because of immigrants and the cultural diversity they bring with them. Currently, the new arrivals are also attracted by the smaller cities, particularly those which have a very welcoming immigration policy. This is the case, for instance, in Nashville, Tennessee, where our Welcoming Tennessee campaign managed to transform the social climate in the space of a few years (2006-2015), helping to improve the reception foreign nationals are given”. Over a few years, from a town in the midst of a crisis, Nashville was transformed into a wealthy town. Its flourishing economy continues to attract new arrivals and the aim is to imbue a sense of belonging in them. Ensuring they receive a positive welcome by working directly to bring about a change of attitudes through positive communication campaigns is perceived as the key to success in combating radicalisation. Such radicalisation must on no account be associated solely with Islam or immigrants in general, as it also occurs within the host population: “Our campaign primarily targeted those who were undecided, the people who did not yet have a definitive opinion on the migration problem.” A recent poll in Nashville proved the effectiveness of this method: 80% of business owners and influencers in the local communities view the impact of immigration on the local economy as positive. That is why in 2014, while visiting the town, President Barack Obama applauded it for its rapid and unexpected transformation. 90 other towns in the United States then adopted the same approach. They drafted action plans to facilitate meetings between people, interfaith dialogue, integration into schools etc. “I hope,” continued Peric, “that Europe will learn from our errors and our successes in this area because the only way to combat radicalisation is to work relentlessly on changing people’s mentalities”.

And as if to illustrate these remarks, Karl Dean, the former mayor of Nashville, shared his experience of a campaign seeking to prevent the Town Council from adopting a regulation to ban the use of languages other than English for business transactions in the town. In 2009, before a referendum on the subject was held, a positive communication campaign managed to turn public opinion against this restrictive proposal.

According to the former mayor, the creation of an Academy in cooperation with the federal immigration police has made it possible to familiarise immigrants quickly with the functioning of the local institutions. Following the foundation of their own discussion and decision-making body, immigrants are regularly invited to meet with the town hall officials.

Leen Verbeek (Netherlands, SOC), Vice-President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe gave an address calling attention to the increasing power of violence in Europe. In his view, radicalisation is a phenomenon that applies less to refugees fleeing war than to groups within our Western societies: “When there are shootings in schools or in public institutions, this is certainly an extreme form of radicalisation within our very own societies.”

The radicalisation prevention policies backed by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities aim to help town councils feel supported when faced with this type of problem which originates with the integration of immigrants but also with internal social phenomena. Exchanging experiences with their colleagues from other member States of the Council of Europe, including the meeting in Aarhus last week, could inspire local representatives to find original and more effective solutions. “Towns and cities represent the first level of governance in direct contact with the population,” he emphasised. “The objective is to create a network of local elected officials and representatives from NGOs to form a sort of information bank and model to combat radicalisation”.

However, radicalisation even manifests itself in small communities which, in principle, have none or very few social integration issues. The mayor of Saverne, Stéphane Leyenberger, pointed out that despite the very effective integration of the Turkish and North African communities in his town, some young people still went to fight in Syria. “A welcoming attitude is not enough to combat radicalisation and indoctrination,” he maintained, considering it necessary to do everything possible to offer better  work and life prospects to young people exhibiting self-esteem issues.

The discussion was followed by several questions from the floor, with the debate focusing among other things on the possibility of identifying the tipping points for individuals to become involved in extremism when young people suddenly decide to shift towards a radical outlook.  The police, social services and local elected officials, who find themselves at the border between intervention and prevention, must seek to ensure that their actions are based on close inter-institutional cooperation.