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.
Highlights
Terrorism researchers and counter-terrorism practitioners have for some time recognized the power of narratives to recruit individuals into violent extremist activities (Schmid, 2014)
This recognition has been incorporated into the new field of countering violent extremism (CVE)
Berger (2014) describe how Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)’ messaging and savvy use of social media platforms have upended traditional jihadi methods of recruitment, resulting in thousands of fighters and other volunteers being recruited to their cause
Summary
Terrorism researchers and counter-terrorism practitioners have for some time recognized the power of narratives to recruit individuals into violent extremist activities (Schmid, 2014). Braddock and Horgan (2015) offered communication and psychology theory-based procedures for (1) analyzing terrorist narratives, (2) constructing counter-narratives that challenge terrorist narratives, and (3) disseminating the counternarratives to overcome barriers to persuasion They found that developing effective messaging should, “Incorporate themes that advocate an alternative view of the terrorist narrative’s target” (Braddock and Horgan 2015, 9) This strategy is consistent with prior claims from policymakers (Grant 2015) and researcher-practitioners (Matejic 2015) that counter-narratives have limited utility and that violent narratives must be replaced, not just countered. We discuss the implications for research, practice, and policy
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