Preventing religiously motivated radicalisation: lessons from southeastern Europe

Abstract

External factors - like the wars in Afghanistan or in the Middle East - explain a part of the rise over the past two decades of religiously motivated violent radicalisation among young people with roots in the Maghreb. But to these, it is essential to add long-term structural factors driving political and social deviation among conservative societies with strong economic and social imbalances and few political freedoms. Marginalization, stigmatization and xenophobia have severely affected young people in Maghreb countries. Such factors have significantly impacted many migrants and children of migrants in European Union countries such as France, Belgium and Spain as well. After reviewing steps taken to counter violent Islamist radicalisation in Morocco (institutional, legal, and operational), this policy brief argues that efforts should focus more on social and economic reforms targeting structural factors. While security cooperation can be valuable, greater emphasis should be placed on education, human rights, job creation, and poverty reduction.

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