This policy brief examines the methods of firearms acquisition by right-wing extremists (RWEs) in Europe between 2019 and 2024. Based on a dataset of 118 cases, it reveals that RWEs resort to diverse legal and illegal acquisition strategies, including the use of illicit markets, legal possession, theft from military and law enforcement…
The active involvement or employment of former extremists (Formers) in preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE) has been a feature of the P/CVE landscape for over a decade. While divisive, a consensus is emerging that what is considered productive involvement of Formers is dependent on several factors related to the…
In 2022, amidst a backdrop of growing violent extremism in the region, NDI launched a pilot preventing/countering violent extremism (P/CVE) program for youth in Abala, a commune in Niger. The program also integrated social and behavioral change (SBC) research and approaches in youth-political party programming from 2022–2023. The primary objective…
This report stems from the recognised need to explore the role of gender in radicalisation processes more deeply. Research and interviews with professionals form the basis for this report, and reiterated gaps further outlined in a complimentary report available here. Additional insights are shared in a concise analysis for ICCT here. Together,…
There is an ongoing need for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to identify and examine the online posting behaviors of violent extremists prior to their engagement in violence offline, but little is empirically known about their online presence generally or differences in their posting behaviors compared to their non-violent counterparts particularly….
This research aimed to enhance emotional awareness and engender empathy among primary school students in Pakistan through education, ultimately fostering emotional regulation and preventing disruptive behaviors. While emotional intelligence (EI) is increasingly recognized as a vital component in counter-terrorism efforts, it is seldom emphasized by young primary school students. Research…
Violent extremist, terrorist, and targeted hate actors have been actively exploiting video games to propagandise, recruit and fundraise for more than 30 years. This report presents an analysis of that history using a unique dataset, the Extremist and Terrorist Games Database (ETGD), developed by the authors. It contains 155 reviewed…
Extensive criminological research has documented a ‘distance-decay’ effect in criminal activity, with offenders less likely to commit crimes farther from their residences. While recent studies have identified similar patterns in ideologically motivated violence, variation in the travel behaviors of extremists remains underexplored. Using data on right-wing extremists who carried out…
This brief provides an overview of Hedayah’s 2023 Research Conference by highlighting key recommendations for countering extremism, violent extremism and terrorism aimed at informing researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. More detailed content from these presentations is available both through Hedayah’s online channels and will be made available through essay contributions to…
As part of the DPL, the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) organised working group meetings between May and July 2024, on the topic of online safety and the regulation of gaming platforms and services. The working group consisted of DPL members representing national ministries and regulators from Australia, Germany, New…
Given the diverse backgrounds of people living in modern societies as well as the international nature of cyber-terrorist threats, profiling the type of person behind cyber-mediated crimes has become a norm in terrorist profiling practice. This study contributes to timely efficient terrorist profiling and threat assessment by showcasing an automated…
The contribution and influence of psychological distress to interest and involvement in extremist violence has received considerable attention in recent years. At the same time, dominant medical models for understanding such distress – typically framed as mental illness or disorder – have been challenged by emerging alternative paradigms in parts…
