Radicalisation

This unique course opens the door to radicalisation by focusing on reasons why people radicalize, join extremist organisations as well as disengage and/or deradicalize. By using personal, local and academic sources, the course also aims to offer an overview of terms and concepts that are used in this field and tools that teachers can use in the classroom. Participants have the opportunity to hear more about extremist organisations and the narratives that they support that often motives their members to join them. At the end of the course, participants have basic knowledge on the main concepts, understanding about motivational factors of radicalizing as well as involvement in extremism and leaving it. Also about narratives that are common to widely spread ideologies like Islamism, right-wing extremism and incel movement. Participants are provided an overview of tools that are used in school environments to support prevention of extremism and the role of the school in tackling it if needed. 

Objectives

In the end of the course, the participant has:

• An overview of the terminology used in this field
• Overview of reasons and triggers that might lead one towards extremism and/or extremist organisation

• Methods and exercises that can be used to discuss topics related to extremism and radicalisation, for example how to talk about terror attack.

• Understanding of reasons why people disengage extremist organisatisons as well as how to support deradicalisation.

• Ways to support people leaving the organization and deradicalisation from extremism worldview.

• Tools that are used to support prevention of extremism in a school environment

• Knowledge on stepts that schools should take if there is a threat of somebody being a part of an extremist organisation.

Structure of the course

The course lasts for 5 weeks. Online session with videos, tasks and reading materials takes approximately 3-5 hours per week and provides basic knowledge on topics of radicalization, deradicalization and prevention work in a school or work environment. The course is intended for general education and higher education teachers, who would benefit from knowledge on radicalisation and deradicalisation processes as well as tools to tackle such topics in a classroom..

There are mandatory activities and materials every week, as well as additional materials like recommendations of literature, videos and movies for those who are keen on getting further knowledge.