ICCT Live Briefing - Right Wing Extremism In Europe: Case Studies from Germany - 20 April 2020

On Monday 20 April 2020, the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism (ICCT) and Leiden University’s Centre for Professional Learning jointly hosted a guest Live Briefing, followed by a Q&A session.

Right Wing Extremism In Europe: Case Studies from Germany

Arie Kruglanski and David Webber have conducted extensive empirical research on violent extremism, and they will share their insights on the question of why individuals feel attracted to, join, stay in or leave violent (extremist)movements and how this may be counteracted. Specifically, they will present the findings of their latest book: The Radicals’ Journey: German Neo Nazis Voyage to the Edge and Back.

The authors delve deeply into the motivations of German Neo-Nazis that prompt their initial membership in these groups, the elements that make membership appealing, and the factors that ultimately cause members to leave. Speakers:

• Arie Kruglanski: Distinguished University Professor, a recipient of numerous awards, and is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association and the American Psychological Society. As a founding Co-PI and Co-Director of START (National Center for the Study of Terrorism and the Response to Terrorism), Kruglanski also conducts research with the support of grants from the Department for Homeland Security and from the Department of Defense on the psychological processes behind radicalization, deradicalization, and terrorism.
• David Webber: Assistant Professor, Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, Virginia Commonwealth University. Webber utilizes a mixture of social psychological experimental methods, field surveys in at-risk locations, and qualitative analyses to examine the factors involved in the radicalization and deradicalization processes of violent extremists. In conjunction with the U.S. State Department and ICCT, Webber is consulting with the Philippine prison system on the use and implementation of risk assessment tools for imprisoned violent extremist offenders.

To join this Live Briefing, please register here and you will receive the log-in details 24 hrs before the start of the Briefing.

For further reading on right wing violence, please read the ICCT Research Paper by Tim Wilson, Rightist Violence: An Historical Perspective, tracing the evolution of extreme right-wing violence by paying close attention to its changing patterns from the late nineteenth century to the present.

For more on ICCT’s work, and to keep up with future Live Briefings, check out our website and follow us on Twitter @ICCT_TheHague.