Guiding Principles for Countering and Displacing Extremist Narratives

Authors

  • Alejandro Beutel National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START)
  • Stevan M Weine University of Illinois at Chicago
  • Aliya Saeed Vanguard Medical of Capital District
  • Aida Spahic Mihajlovic University of Illinois at Chicago
  • Andrew Stone Philadelphia VA Medical Center image/svg+xml
  • John Oakley Beahrs Oregon Health and Science University
  • Stephen B Shanfield University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15664/jtr.1220

Keywords:

Countering violent extremism, terrorism, ISIS, Al-Qaeda, narratives

Abstract

U.S. policymakers consider countering and displacing extremist narratives to be a core strategy of countering violent extremism. The rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), which uses highly sophisticated messaging to reach U.S. young persons, has further emphasized the need for this strategy. However, to date there has been little discussion of principles to guide the practice of countering and displacing extremist narratives. Drawing upon a growing body of theory, empirical evidence, and practical experience from across several disciplines, this article suggests principles to guide both developing the content of new narratives and delivering new narratives.

Author Biographies

  • Alejandro Beutel, National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START)
    Alejandro J. Beutel is Researcher for Countering Violent Extremism at the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START). Prior to START, Beutel was the Policy and Research Engagement Fellow at the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU), an applied research think-tank specializing in the study and promotion of evidence-based development strategies for positive civic, social, and political engagement outcomes for American Muslim communities. He was also an independent research consultant to several non-profits, private corporations, and think-tanks.
  • Stevan M Weine, University of Illinois at Chicago
    Stevan Weine is a psychiatrist and researcher in the Department of Psychiatry of the University of Illinois at Chicago. He is Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the International Center on Responses to Catastrophes. His scholarly work focuses on the personal, familial, social, cultural, and historical dimensions of trauma and migration, terrorism, countering violent extremism, and community interventions.
  • Aliya Saeed, Vanguard Medical of Capital District
    Dr. Saeed is a practicing psychiatrist who delivers individualized psychiatric care through Vanguard Medical to the residents of the capital district in upstate New York.
  • Aida Spahic Mihajlovic, University of Illinois at Chicago
    Dr. Mihajlovic is a practicing psychiatrist and researcher at the University of Illinois at Chicago whose research focuses on refugees' mental health, PTSD, and social psychiatry.
  • Andrew Stone, Philadelphia VA Medical Center
    Dr. Stone is the Director of the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Clinical Team at VA Medical Center Philadelphia. His expertise is in mental health, psychotherapy, and PTSD.
  • John Oakley Beahrs, Oregon Health and Science University
    Dr. Beahrs professional focus is on consciousness, volition, hypnosis, evolutionary biology, psych & law, social systems and social causation.
  • Stephen B Shanfield, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
    Dr. Shanfield's interests include psychological elements of international relations, conceptual elements of diagnosis, and history of psychiatry.

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Published

2016-08-31

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 3 (2016)

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2016 The Author(s)

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