Researchers from the RADIS research network engaged in intensive dialogue with experts from the field at the interdisciplinary symposium in February. The focus was on current findings from research on radicalisation in the field of Islamism.
On Thursday, Michael Schnatz (BMBF) and Dr Silvia Matalik (DLR Projektträger) welcomed the participants. The conference was opened by Prof. Dr Andreas Zick and Prof. Dr Julian Junk (RADIS). With his question as to whether it would "help to invite radical Islamists into this plenary hall", Prof. Zick pointed to the core objective of the conference: to provide a platform for open exchange and constructive debates on extremism and its research.
The first panel focused on threat perceptions and their role in social exclusion processes and was moderated by Sina Tultschinetski (RADIS). Mona Klöckner (KURI) presented an online survey on public attitudes towards extremism and spoke about measurable shifts over time. The following presentation by Dr Melanie Reddig and Niklas Herrberg (ArenDt) was dedicated to anti-Semitism among Muslims from a Jewish perspective. The fact that Jews see this phenomenon as part of a larger anti-Semitism problem in Germany echoed the findings of Prof Dr Gert Pickel (RIRA) and Dr Des. Cemal Öztürk (RIRA). They do not view radicalisation as an isolated phenomenon, but argue that there is a radicalisation spiral in which Islamist and right-wing extremist tendencies are mutually reinforcing. Prof Dr Peter Wetzels (University of Hamburg) gave a commentary on the three presentations.
The afternoon continued with a panel on competition and ideologisation in Islam, moderated by Dr Anja Schmidt-Kleinert (RADIS). In his presentation, Dr Jörn Thielmann (Interdependencies) discussed the contested nature of the terms "Islamism" and "fundamentalism". Dr Youssef Dennaoui (Power of Interpretation) then used the example of neo-Salafism to illustrate the dimensions and consequences of religious competition: Not least, this is where political battles are fought. Research by Marcel Klapp (University of Cologne) furthermore shows that Salafist online preachers use cross-platform marketing to generate outreach and thus authority. Prof Dr Meltem Kulacatan (IU Nuremberg) rounded off the panel with various thoughts on the three lectures.
The following panel on local structures as a context for radicalisation was moderated by Shaimaa Abdellah (RADIS). Dr Gerrit Weitzel (RadiRA) emphasised superdiversity as a formative contextual element in radicalisation processes. During his ethnological field research in a large city in North Rhine-Westphalia, he experienced forms of "coexistence between conflict and normality". Anna-Maria Meuth (RaMi) used the example of anti-Muslim discourse to show how anti-democratic processes are normalised and brought to the centre of society. Dr Jörg Hüttermann (University of Bielefeld) provided the closing commentary.
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The following morning, Lars Wiegold (RADIS) presented a panel on affective, social, and structural factors of radicalisation. According to Alexandra Schramm (UWIT), aspiring teachers of Islamic religious education cite identity crises, a lack of self-esteem, and ignorance about Islam as the main causes of radicalisation. Similarly, according to the findings of Dr Sarah Demmrich (Ressentiment), Islamist radicalisation arises in a field of tension between strong feelings of grievance and powerful enemy images. The discussion of the two presentations was kicked off by Prof Dr Kurt Möller (Esslingen University of Applied Sciences).
Finally, the practitioners' perspective took centre stage - Lars Schäfer (VPN) moderated the panel on applied research. Eike Bösing (Distance) spoke about types of professionalism in the practical work of specialists in prevention of Islamism. Prof Dr Jens Ostwaldt (ZRP) discussed how Muslim associations are integrated into prevention structures. Prof Dr Dennis Walkenhorst (IU International University) emphasised the importance of funding for prevention: "Funding structures in disengagement and distancing work must counteract fragmentation effects and enable exchange". In their talk, Dr Juliane Kanitz (i-unito) and Harry Guta (beRATen e.V.) guided the audience through Hartmut Rosa's concept of resonance and its significance for the prevention of extremism. Finally, Dr Götz Nordbruch (Berghof Foundation Berlin) gave his remarks.
The conference ended with a joint lunch. We are grateful for the many enriching presentations, inspiring talks, and constructive discussions.
