In order to prevent or counter terrorism and extremism, both CT policy-makers and front-line practitioners must be informed by evidence-based assessments of the various extremist threats they are facing. In order to provide such assessments, the Current and Emerging Threats programme studies the ideologies and tactics of a variety of terrorist and extremist actors. It covers jihadist terrorism as well as right-wing extremism and anti-government extremism, and examines, among other things, how such movements form, what their beliefs are, how they try to achieve their goals, and where they are getting their support. In doing so, it develops up-to-date insights into the ever-changing dynamics of terrorism and extremism.

Security-dominated responses to violent extremism have proven insufficient to counter and prevent its spread. Evidence and experience have shown that strategic, comprehensive, and holistic approaches can wield a far greater – and more lasting – impact on the prevention and countering of violent extremism. At the heart of P/CVE is the need to address the myriad of factors that can fuel violent extremism, including discrimination and marginalisation, poor governance and lack of accountability of the state. For this reason, successful P/CVE approaches must be underpinned by – and in many cases actively work to strengthen – human rights and the rule of law in communities affected by terrorism and violent extremism.