On 16th June 2026, the RADIS team hosted the international online symposium “Interactions and Transformation Processes in the Field of Islamism.” The objective was to present the findings of the RADIS research network to an international audience and to contextualise them within a broader European and global framework.

Speakers and participants from Germany, the United Kingdom, Turkey, Croatia, and Italy contributed diverse perspectives on Islamism and radicalisation. Discussions centred on processes of (co-)radicalisation, the influence of global and national dynamics, and shifting patterns within the phenomenon of Islamism.

A central takeaway from the symposium was that Islamism and radicalisation must not be viewed in isolation. Radicalisation arises and evolves through complex interactions between individuals, groups, state institutions, and wider society. Participants discussed how experiences of belonging and exclusion shape this dynamic. It became evident that anti-Muslim hostility and Islamism can reinforce one another, even though they are frequently treated separately in research and prevention work.

Experiences of discrimination and exclusion should therefore be given greater consideration, without assumingthat they inevitably lead to radicalisation.

This links to a further conclusion: social participation and accessible spaces for interaction are invaluable for prevention. Moving forward, a core challenge lies in fostering opportunities for meaningful political and social engagement.

Finally, the symposium highlighted the growing significance of global and transnational developments in driving radicalisation. This underscores why international academic exchange is vital for deepening our understanding of radicalisation processes and developing effective responses.