Introduction: assessing the effectiveness of counter-radicalisation policies in northwestern Europe

Abstract

In recent years, a new policy field on the prevention of radicalisation has emerged in northwestern Europe. The aim of this special section is, accordingly, to provide some first academic assessments of radicalisation prevention policies' effectiveness in northwestern Europe states. The present introduction sets the scene for this endeavour by proving a brief description of the typical characteristics of the evolving policy field of counter-radicalisation in northwestern European states. It introduces us to different types of counter-radicalisation policies and the typical actor-constellations involved in the implementation of counter-radicalisation. The introduction then reviews the existing literature as a way to provide a background understanding of what may determine the effectiveness of counter-radicalisation policies. Furthermore, the introduction reflects on the endeavour of assessing effectiveness of counter-radicalisation policies and outlines some fundamental methodological challenges to this enterprise and some initial thoughts on the nature of ‘critical’ assessments. Finally, the introduction lays out the three different dimensions of policy effectiveness which the special section is structured around and provides brief introductions to the individual contributions.