Context
With extremist ideologies spreading and presenting high threats to social cohesion in Europe, the EU and its Member States are recognizing the need to develop effective prevention policies and intervention scenarios supporting social inclusion and cohesive societies. It is especially relevant to focus on the psychological and social mechanisms of alienation, radicalization and deradicalization of young people in European urban contexts.
Aim of the project
OPEN MINDS project will explore the socio-economic drivers of radical religious and political ideologies prone to inciting violence. It will also analyse exit strategies and disengagement from radical contexts and present complementary knowledge on non-radicalizing identity. Our consortium will draw on the existing state-of-the-art research across relevant disciplines (from conflict and terrorism studies, sociology, psychology, geography, linguistics, moral philosophy, computer science and econometrics) to explore the links between socio-economics, radicalization and deradicalization related to socio-ecological resilience.
Impact
Through the activities and products of the OPEN MINDS project, young people at risk of radicalization/ polarisation will be able to develop skills and mechanisms to “free themselves” and participate healthily in the social and democratic life of their community.
Results
- Synthesis report on the influence of the social and psychological economy on the mechanisms of polarisation and radicalisation of young people living in urban areas in the participating countries.
- Collection and analysis of de-radicalisation pathways towards social inclusion.
- Development of innovative play and training materials to promote social resilience and social inclusion of young people.
A transnational research analysis about the scope and varieties of radicalization in Europe and the consequences of extremist tendencies amongst young people.
The report is based on seven national reports, fieldworks and data collections from the partners of the participating countries Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece, Denmark, Cyprus, Italy and Slovenia.
Additionally, it gives an overview of the scope of radicalized environments that exist in the participating countries as well as how political history, flow of refugees, wealth, education etc. affect each country’s variety and scope of radicalized environments and extremist acts. It also provides a deeper look into where these environments are located.
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A transnational research analysis of deradicalization pathways towards social inclusion.
The report focuses on the collection and analysis of deradicalization pathways and exit strategies across age and gender to promote the social inclusion of youth. IO2 activities will start with the organization of ethnographic field trips into the areas associated with the extreme radicalization of the consortium countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Greece, Italy and Slovenia) and the investigation of measures existing in these areas regarding deradicalization and social inclusion.
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Projects news
Project’s information
- Duration 1 February 2021 to 31 January 2023 + 6 months extension
- AGREEMENT NUMBER 2020-3-DK01-KA205-094059

ENG TO DO
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.