Countering Violent Extremism
116 Articles

New Zealand Attacks: A Wake-Up Call to Counter Far-Right Extremist Violence
With the attacks over the last year—including those in Charleston, Pittsburgh, Toronto, and now New Zealand, among many others—it’s time to collectively and unequivocally…

Why Violent Extremism Still Spreads
Since 2001, the international community has spent enormous intellectual and political capital debating and negotiating the definition of violent extremism to design effective strategies…

Research Shows Terrorists Aren’t Necessarily Uneducated. So How Can Education Prevent Terror?
Researchers say ideology and grievance are necessary drivers of extremism. Educators are in a position to challenge grievance narratives.

The 116th Congress and Preventing Extremist Violence: Look North for Guidance
Democrats taking control of the U.S. House today with the start of the 116th Congress have a long and growing list of policy (as well as investigative) priorities. Included on…

Reframing Prevention: If Government Won’t Lead, Civil Society Must Step Up to Curb Extremism
The acute urgency for solutions to prevent political violence cannot be overstated. As the bias-motivated murders in Pittsburgh and Kentucky show, hate is becoming mainstream,…

U.S. Lethal Operations in Somalia Are On the Rise. But Are They Effective?
A deep-rooted ideology cannot be defeated with bombs dropped from the sky. What is needed is a real shift in strategy.

Sisi’s World Youth Forum Celebrations in South Sinai Do Not Reflect the Reality in North Sinai
While the government of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi celebrated the World Youth Forum in Sharm el Sheikh earlier this month, people in North Sinai are living in fear…

It’s Time to Put CVE to Bed
In the wake of the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, many commentators have criticized the Trump administration’s revocation of grants meant to target far-right…

Current Global CVE Agenda Is a Mixed Bag, But Don’t Throw It Out
A little noticed provision in the annual defense policy bill for 2018 required President Donald Trump to submit to Congress a “comprehensive interagency national strategy for…

Worst Suspicions Confirmed: Government Reports Show Domestic Anti-Terrorism Efforts Target Minorities
Three recent U.S. government reports on Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) initiatives confirm many of the concerns the Brennan Center has had about these programs since they were…

From Sweeping Punishment to Real Justice in Countering Terrorism
A study led by the United Nations University that examined punitive efforts in Iraq, Nigeria, and Somalia shows that too often, nonviolent associates of terror groups who may have…

How Transitional Justice Can Help the U.S. Defeat Terrorism
It may seem odd that the National Security Strategy discusses accountability for mass atrocities on the same page as defeating transnational terror. What could justice have to…