Baseline research on the fight against violent extremism and radicalisation

The study aims to identify factors that influence the formation of protest communities based on a radical outlook, as well as to strengthen expert capacity, in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

The author described 13 factors of violent extremism relevant to  CARs, among which hostility between groups of different identities, socio-psychological factors, radicalization in prisons. Each of the factors was considered with a country bias, taking into account the peculiarities of geopolitical, cultural and other influences.

Particularly relevant parts of the study are on women and children involved in violent radicalization. The author displays five categories of female members of extremist and terrorist groups in case their motivation. Even more interesting is the description of the risks associated with the return of ITO members from Syria and Iraq and their subsequent rehabilitation.

The author considers effective psychological work as the main way of rehabilitating high-risk prisoners, by reinforcing her conclusion with many examples and analytical reviews.

The results can be used in the advisory work of correctional officers, in taking adequate measures for the rehabilitation and integration into the community of members of radical communities. At the same time, the study will help in identifying and defining strategies aimed at identifying risks when interacting with individuals who have joined radical groups.