Violent extremism is not new, but we have witnessed its rise to the point that it has become a defining issue of our time. We cannot brush it aside any longer: it characterizes who we are as a people and as a global society. Why is violent extremism rising? What are its drivers and triggers? These questions must be asked and answered first, and Teaching in a World of Violent Extremism takes up the questions and the answers. In an effort to end violent extremism, the next questions that must be pursued are these: How shall we prevent and undo extremism, especially the militant and violent kind? In this world of violent extremism, what curriculum designs, educational programs, and pedagogies shall we employ to develop competent citizens, civic leaders, and pastors, as well as resilient communities?

This timely special issue looks at a current pressing societal challenge that is truly global in its existence but very local in the way it plays out in various geographical, social and political contexts. Terrorism and extremism are undoubtedly among the biggest problems the world is facing today and is leaving in its wake a trail of death and destruction where the human and social costs are perhaps more significant than wars fought between countries on the world stage. These realities breed suspicion, hatred and feelings of revenge and invariably result in a spiral of violence that seemingly has no end. Not only is there a need to explore the various factors leading to violent youth radicalisation, it is clear that young people need to be considered not as victims ‘at risk’ but rather as responsible agents of positive change. This issue focuses on violent youth radicalisation in the context of Professor Gavrielides’ ‘The Youth Empowerment and Innovation Project (YEIP)’ which looked at the problem of violent youth radicalisation across seven European Countries. The project sought to propose a uniquely different way of combatting violent youth radicalisation by proposing an alternative to punitive means so often favoured by governments. That alternative proposed was to use Positive psychology and the Good Lives model to intervene with young people at risk of violent radicalisation focusing on positive identity and well-being on the premise that young people who had a positive view of themselves would be less likely to be drawn into violent radicalisation.

How can the United Nations best address the imperatives of peace? Long Walk of Peace presents a fresh review of the conceptual and practical approaches to peace since the creation of the UN. Through an in-depth theoretical analysis, combined with a presentation of innovative practices across 32 UN bodies, it explores the long, steady haul towards peace and provides inspiration for the way forward. This book, through its conceptual history and robust analysis, shows that peace is a dynamic process and a continuous journey of discovery. Thereby, the book provides a unique understanding of the emerging priorities of 'sustaining peace' and promoting 'a culture of prevention'. As such it is an expression of UNESCO's mandate to serve as a laboratory of ideas and thereby help advance the imperatives underscored by Agenda 2030.

Projecting a global interdisciplinary vision, this insightful book develops a peer-to-peer learning methodology to facilitate reconciling religion and human rights, both in multilateral contexts and at the national level. Written by leading human rights practitioners, the book illuminates the tension zones between religion and rights, exploring how the ‘faith’ elements in both disciplines can create synergies for protecting equal human dignity.

This book explores the links between education policy and occurrences of civil disorder and domestic terrorism in England and France. Since 2001, both England and France have experienced outbreaks of rioting in which young people of immigrant origin have been implicated: both have also been the targets of domestic terror attacks perpetrated by their own citizens. Both countries have had similar experiences of immigration since the end of the Second World War, but they are considered to have taken divergent approaches to immigrant integration and education. While Britain has tended towards a multicultural race relations approach, France veers towards a Republican assimilationist approach. Through the analysis of policy discourse and documents, the authors seek to establish whether these distinct approaches to immigrant integration and education policy have been maintained or whether they are converging. This book will appeal to students and scholars of education policy as well as immigration and integration in both France and England.

This book explores and inquiries into the interrelation between normativity and Critical Terrorism Studies (CTS) from a wide range of critical views. The volume draws together authors with very different positions and understandings of normativity and policy-implementations in relation to countering terrorism, to offer the reader a wide range of perspectives and views on this topic. As such, the book is aimed at interrogating the concept of normativity in CTS from a wide range of theoretical angles but also at incorporating within the CTS’ agenda new debates and critiques. In its chapters, the book covers debates that go from more philosophical, theoretical, and ethical discussions to questions revolving around the importance and need of being policy-relevant for CTS scholars. All in all, this volume brings together chapters joining the debate on CTS’ main theoretical tenants and the role of critical scholars in counter-terrorism and prevention policies. Covering a broad spectrum of approaches and perspectives, authors in this book give different answers to central questions such as: how can we rethink CTS? What is the role of the critical terrorism studies community in countering terrorism? The chapters in this book were originally published in the journal, Critical Studies on Terrorism.

This interdisciplinary volume on The Challenge of Radicalization and Extremism: Integrating Research on Education and Citizenship in the Context of Migration addresses the need for educational researchers to place their work in a broader social and political context by connecting it to the current and highly relevant issue of extremism and radicalization. It is just as important for researchers of extremism and radicalization to strengthen their conceptual links with educational fields, especially with education for democratic citizenship, as for researchers in education to get more familiar with issues of migration. This book meets a current shortage of research that addresses these issues across subjects and disciplines to inform both scientific and professional stakeholders in the educational and social sectors. The volume is divided into three parts. The first part, Foundations, provides fundamental research on radicalization and the rejection of democratic values. In the second part, Analysis of Preconditions within the Educational Context, key risk and protective factors against radicalization for young people are explored. Finally, the third part, Approaches for Prevention and Intervention, offers concrete suggestions for prevention and intervention methods within formal and informal educational contexts. The contributions show how new avenues for prevention can be explored through integrating citizenship education’s twofold function to assimilate and to empower.