Understanding the interplay of counter-extremism trends and Muslim communities in Europe

Abstract

This chapter explores trends in counter-terrorism and countering violent extremism (CVE) which have developed between 2014 and 2019, to understand how they have impacted on and interacted with Muslim communities in Europe. It builds on two research questions—how different European countries have articulated discussions on, and responses to, extremism; and how these articulations are linked to national-level discussions on European Muslim communities. By analysing a dataset of 697 key CVE policy, programmes and institutions in Europe, the chapter develops several characterizations of how extremism have been conceptualized in ten European States. These are linked to national discussions on, and trends within, European Muslim minorities, to consider how communities interact with and are impacted by national CVE approaches. Such an approach enables us to conduct a broad assessment of the state of European CVE, as well as considering whether and how the widening of the security lens—in problematizing a plethora of new groups, ideologies and beliefs—has further entwined concepts of security and Islam in Europe.