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Religion, Radicalisation, Resilience

Explore religiously-inspired violent radicalisation and assess strategies to prevent radicalisation within communities.

3,954 enrolled on this course

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Religion, Radicalisation, Resilience

3,954 enrolled on this course

  • 3 weeks

  • 3 hours per week

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Open level

Find out more about how to join this course

Examine the link between religion, radicalisation, and violence

Radicalisation, extremism, and religion are often used to frame acts of violence around the world, but the way in which these concepts are linked is complex and often misunderstood.

On this three-week course from EUI, you’ll use up-to-date theories to examine how and why people become radicalised. You’ll also explore counter-radicalisation initiatives and prevention.

Investigate religiously-inspired radicalisation and acts of violence in global contexts

There are many multi-faceted driving forces that lead to radicalisation.

Using a range of global case studies, you’ll gain a contextual understanding of religiously attributed acts of violence, learning how religion is linked to, but not the sole trigger of, radicalisation.

Reflect on the drivers of violent radicalisation

The complex dynamics of radicalisation rely on a combination of factors that differ for every individual.

You’ll examine the historical, geopolitical, personal, and psychological factors that contribute to violent extremism, gaining an overview of the main theoretical approaches.

With this knowledge, you’ll be able to challenge common stereotypes and reframe your understanding of at-risk groups.

Discuss strategies to prevent violent radicalisation and develop community resilience

Building resilience allows at-risk people to actively respond to the adverse life circumstances that could lead to radicalisation.

You’ll assess resilience approaches and policies and examine the challenges and opportunities provided by new technologies to prevent the spread of extremist propaganda.

By the end of this course you’ll understand the complex nature of violent radicalisation. Using relevant theory, you’ll be able to discuss approaches to prevention, the risks, and triggers faced by marginalised people.

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Skip to 0 minutes and 13 seconds Terrorism is high on the international agenda. And terms, as foreign fighters, radicalization and religious extremism often hit the headlines and fuel the political debate at the global level. It is definitely not a new phenomenon. What has changed though is that in the past, terrorism was merely related to national issues and claims. Limited by national boundaries, think of the Farc in Colombia, of the IRA in the United Kingdom, or of Hamas in Palestine. However with new tools, resources, and channels, it has become a global phenomenon. Religiously inspired or attributed violent radicalization immediately make us think of terrorist organisations such as al-Qaeda, and ISIS, and of terrorist attacks on the Western world.

Skip to 1 minute and 9 seconds But data shows that Muslims have been victims of violent extremism themselves, both at the hands of Muslim and non-Muslim violent groups. It is clear that the deepening of global social inequalities, as well as fear, suspicion, and minority marginalisation only contribute to the sharpening of the ideological divides among people actually inciting violence. So what are the factors in underlying dynamics that draw individuals into extremism, especially in the case of youths? What are the best practises in place to curb this phenomenon? And how can governments and people build resilience to combat terrorism and violent radicalisation? Join our group of international experts for topical information, thought-provoking discussions, and the opportunity to make your own opinion on this pressing global issue. Sign up now.

Syllabus

  • Week 1

    What is violent radicalisation?

    • Introducing the course: Religion, Radicalisation, Resilience

      Welcome and brief overview of what the course is about, how it is structured, and who the educators are.

    • Examples from outside Europe

      This activity provides some concrete examples from Southeast Asia and the MENA region.

    • Violent radicalisation in Europe

      This activity explores the relationship between religion and radicalisation with a focus on Europe, and tests knowledge acquired so far.

    • Why do people radicalise?

      Providing expert opinions and fostering discussions on why people radicalise, why others not, and what draws individuals to become foreign fighters.

  • Week 2

    Drivers and dynamics of violent radicalisation

    • Drivers of violent radicalisation: an overview of different approaches

      This activity provides an overview of the geopolitical, socio-economic, historical and psychological-cognitive approaches to the study of violent radicalisation.

    • When violence meets radicalisation

      Differences between violent and non violent radicalism and groups at risk.

    • Violent radicalisation in historical perspective

      Looking at how violent radicalisation in the present differs from violent radicalisation in the past.

    • Bringing the cases together to assess lessons learnt

      Bringing together different approaches to explain violent radicalisation, and reflecting on the linkage between religion and radicalisation.

  • Week 3

    Addressing violent radicalisation through resilience

    • The conceptual framework of resilience to radicalisation

      Explaining what resilience to violent radicalisation is about.

    • The role of the media

      Reflecting on online radicalisation and on the role of the media in creating media panics about terrorism

    • Counter-radicalisation theories

      Through the resilience model, this activity offers an analysis of the existing theories to counter violent radicalisation.

    • Policy responses and prevention tools

      Moving from theory to practice in looking at what kind of policies have been adopted to counter violent radicalisation.

    • Wrapping up the course

      Summarizing and reflecting upon the concepts, theories and cases analysed in the course.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Investigate current debates on violent religious radicalisation
  • Engage with different theoretical approaches that explain violent radicalisation and identify its causes
  • Explore the process through which a young person can be drawn into a spiral of violent radicalisation and extremism
  • Discuss what is resilience and how it is different from counter-radicalisation approaches
  • Compare specific approaches and experiences of building resilience within communities and countering violent radicalisation. Discuss whether and how they can be transposed to different settings (cities, countries)
  • Learn about how violent religiously attributed radicalisation emerges today in different parts of the world, understand why people are driven to engage in violent extremism and what resilience to it is

Who is the course for?

This course is for social workers, civil society actors and practitioners, educators, journalists and interested citizens.

This course is part of the research project GREASE: Radicalisation Secularism and the Governance of Religious Diversity: Bringing together European and Asian Perspectives funded by the European Commission, Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement number 770640. The content of this MOOC represents only the views of the GREASE consortium and is its sole responsibility. The European Commission does not accept any responsibility for use that may be made of the information it contains.

Who will you learn with?

Anna Triandafyllidou is Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and Integration at Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada.

Tina is a Research Associate at the Global Governance Programme, Robert Schuman Center for Advanced Studies of the European University Institute working primarily on religious diversity governance.

Who developed the course?

European University Institute (EUI)

We are the European University Institute (EUI), the leading institute in Europe dedicated to social sciences and humanities. Founded in 1972 by the six original members of the then European Communities, the EUI has earned a reputation as a transnational hub of research and higher learning.

GREASE Project Consortium

GREASE: Radicalisation, Secularism and the Governance of Religion: Bringing together European and Asian Perspectives, is an international research project funded by the Horizon 2020 programme.

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Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$27.99

For the first two months. Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$89/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 9 Apr 2024

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

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