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Project

Countering youth radicalization in Tunisia through inclusion
 

Tunisia
Project ID
108479
Total Funding
CAD 482,700.00
IDRC Officer
Ramata Thioune
Project Status
Completed
End Date
Duration
36 months

Programs and partnerships

Governance and Justice

Lead institution(s)

Summary

Among the most challenging issues Tunisia is facing are massive youth unemployment; marginalization/exclusion from public participation by youth; distrust in political processes; and youth engagement in radicalization and the rehabilitation and reintegration of returnee Jihadists.Read more

Among the most challenging issues Tunisia is facing are massive youth unemployment; marginalization/exclusion from public participation by youth; distrust in political processes; and youth engagement in radicalization and the rehabilitation and reintegration of returnee Jihadists. The state and civil society organizations have developed policies and programs to overcome these mutually reinforcing challenges. However, review of these policies and programs has shown that they are not based on strong evidence. In addition, attempts to address youth involvement in radicalization so far have not engaged with youth, hence missing the opportunity to understand the root causes of their involvement in radicalization.

The aim of this project is to develop innovative approaches for radicalization prevention and de-radicalization initiatives by analyzing the relationship between exclusion and female and male youth’s susceptibility to extremism. Under the leadership of the Maghreb Economic Forum, a team of multidisciplinary researchers seeks to address these interlinking challenges. Researchers will use a case study approach and mixed methods to investigate the social, political, and cultural exclusion of Tunisian youth, as well as the drivers for their engagement in violent radicalization and extremism.

The project will focus on disadvantaged urban and rural areas of Douar Hicher, Ben Gardane, Kairouan, and Kasserine in Tunisia. Researchers will examine and analyze the different ways in which societal power relations between and among women, men, girls and boys are shaping or being affected by the spread of extremist ideologies. The project will also collect, test, and assess counter-Jihadism programs developed in the Maghreb region and will examine whether these programs can be adapted into the Tunisian context. The knowledge generated will be used to develop scalable innovative approaches to prevent and reduce the vulnerability of youth to violent radicalization and extremism in Tunisia.

Research outputs

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Report
Language:

English

Summary

The main topics of the conference (2019) during the two days were: inclusion of Tunisian youth and its impact on preventing and mitigating Violent Extremism, and; the dilemma of the returning Tunisian Foreign Fighters. Findings are from the first phase of the research. Historically, religion has influenced traditions and social norms. However, societal conservatism has substituted religion. According to the research participants, community influence along with traditions and social norms are the basis of conservatism. Civic Engagement can provide a sense of belonging to a community of youth and help them maintain personal and professional skills.

Author(s)
Ben Salah, Nizar
Article
Language:

English

Summary

Tunisia has been threatened by the rise of radicalization and violent extremism since 2011. Throughout the post-revolutionary phase, horrendous attacks have targeted its political, social and economic security, which have led the Tunisian authorities to draft new anti-terrorism and money laundering laws and to adopt new procedures to counter extremism. The article reviews actions taken, and argues that freedom of the press is fundamental for maintaining and preserving democracy. State behavior must be based on a security consensus that not only protects the safety of people but also preserves their human rights.

Author(s)
Imen Alnighaoui
Study
Language:

English

Summary

Tunisia’s history of violent extremism is intertwined with relative deprivation in terms of the sense of injustice arising from not attaining the quality of life expected. Tunisian radicalized youth tend to be between the ages of 24 and 37 and come from tight communities, often where economic gains since the revolution had not been felt. The report provides in-depth background to Tunisia and the Middle East in relation to extremist groups, and political, religious and social ideologies. Friends, family, and easy access to violent extremist groups act as enabling factors in youth joining extremist groups. Preventing recruitment is the objective of the paper.

Author(s)
Ben Salah, Nizar
Article
Language:

English

Summary

The article reports on the Maghreb Economic Forum (MEF) research “Tackling Youth Radicalization through Inclusion.” Civic Engagement is providing a sense of belonging to youth and helping them maintain personal and professional skills. “Belonging” or the feeling of inclusion represents the foundation of youth resilience to psychological and societal tensions and vulnerabilities. According to the study subjects of MEF research, the most significant driver of youth radicalization is injustice and loss of hope, defined as the contrast between high expectations of people after the Arab spring, in conjunction with unresponsive state institutions.

Author(s)
Ben Salah, Nizar
Brief
Language:

English

Summary

Because Tunisians constitute one of the largest contingents of Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTF) in Iraq, Syria, and Libya, Tunisia expects an influx of returning FTFs. Moreover, due to Article 25 of Tunisia’s Constitution, returnees cannot be denied re-entrance. Security approaches are based around counter-terrorism law (2015) where returnees are viewed as an immediate threat to public safety. This policy brief suggests ways in which they can be successfully re-integrated. The Addressing Violent Extremism (AVE) approach stipulates that programs must be contextualized to regional and local conditions; community-oriented; modified by evaluative data; and guided by a national strategy.

Author(s)
Leon, Harisson
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