Polarisation and Radicalisation

Action Plan 2007 2011

y
Contents
1. Socialproblems
2. Defnitionanddemarcation
3. Goalsoftheactionplan
4. Whoissusceptibleto
polarisationandradicalisation?
5. Approach
5.0 Three-trackapproachwithprimacyin
thehandsofthelocaladministration
5.1 Furtherelaborationoflocalapproach
5.2 Generalandspecifcpolicyatnationallevel
5.2.1 Generalpolicyatnationallevel
5.2.2 Specifcpolicyatnationallevel
5.3 Cooperationatinternationallevel
andforeignpolicy
5.3.1 Cooperationatinternationallevel
5.3.2 Foreignpolicy
6. Costsandfnancing
Colophon
4
5
7
8
11
11
12
13
16
18
27
27
28
29
30
y
1. Societal problems
Polarisationandradicalisationappeartobe
increasinginscope,speedandintensityinthe
Netherlands.
1
TheDutchIntelligenceService,the
AIVD,formulateditasfollowsinits2005annual
report:ThebiggestthreattotheDutchdemocratic
orderiscurrentlytheexistenceofawidesocio-polit-
icalproblemwhere,inanatmosphereoffrustration
abouttheDutchmulticulturalsociety,inter-ethnic
confrontationsarebeenprovokedbothonthepart
oftheindigenouspopulationandethnicminorities.
Persistentinter-ethnicconfrontationscanthreaten
cohesioninDutchsocietyinthelongterm.
TheAIVD2006annualreportpaysparticularatten-
tiontotheincreaseinIslamicradicalisation:The
radicalisationprocessamongimmigrantyouthsis
becomingstronger.TheSalaf
2
movementinthe
Netherlandsisanimportantdrivingforceinthis
respect.Althoughitdoesnotinciteviolence,itdoes
preachananti-integrativeandintolerantmessage.
Inordertopreventafurtherincreaseinradicalisa-
tion,botharepressiveandapreventativeapproach
isnecessary.Thisbroadapproachmustprovidea
counter-voice,takingthewindoutofthesailsof
radicalmovements.
Thecabinetviewspolarisationandradicalisation
asbroadsocialproblemsthatneedtobeprevented
andcurtailed.Polarisationandradicalisationcan
threatensocialcohesionandsolidarityinsociety.
Individualsandgroupsseekoutconfrontation,turn
awayfromsocietyandriskbecomingisolated.Ifa
radicalisationprocessisnotdefectedorcurbed,
1
TheRaceDiscriminationMonitor
2005oftheNationalBureauto
CombatRaceDiscrimination
reportsthatseveralthousand
racially-motivatedincidentstake
placeeveryyear;
RecentresearchbytheUniversity
ofAmsterdam(Instituteof
MigrationandEthnicStudies)
showsthatapprox.2%ofthe
MuslimsinAmsterdamare
susceptibletoradicalisation.
Ontheinternet,thereisan
increasingnumberofsitesand
chatroomswhereradicalscanhave
contactwitheachotherorobtain
information,accordingtothe
seventhRacism&Extremism
MonitoroftheUniversityof
Leiden/AnneFrankStichting
(2006).
CadatandEngbersen(NIZW,
2006)havenotedagrowing
problemofclashesbetween
extreme-right'Lonsdale'youths
andethnicminorities.TheRacism
andExtremismMonitor(Van
Donselaar,Rodrigues,2006)
confrmsthispicture.
2
Salafsm:Abroadideological
movementwithinIslamthatseeks
toreturntothepureIslamfromthe
timeoftheProphet.Oftenconserva-
tiveandultra-orthodox.

intheworstcasescenariothereistheriskthata
personorgroupwilluseviolenceandcommita
(terrorist)attack.Thisproblemwillbeapproached
inacombinedeffort.
Thecabinetasksusalltoworktogetheronrespect
andsolidarityinoursociety,takingaccountofeach
otherandrespectingeveryonesoptionsandtalents.
Weneedtocreatelong-termbonds.Asocietyin
whichthegovernmentestablishesclearlimits
regardingwhatisandwhatisnotpermissible.
3
This
includesattentiontopreventionandrepression.
Theactionplanhasbeenwritteninthisspirit.
4

2. Defnition and demarcation

Polarisationisthesharpeningofdifferences
betweengroupsinsocietywhichcanresultin
tensionsbetweenthesegroupsandanincreasein
segregationalongethnicandreligiouslines.
Radicalisationisthewillingnesstostrivefor
far-reachingchangesinsociety(possiblyinan
undemocraticmanner),tosupportsuchchanges
orpersuadeotherstoacceptthem.Far-reaching
changesaredevelopmentswhichcanresultina
risktothedemocraticlegalorder(goal),oftenwith
undemocraticmethods(means),whicharedetri-
mentaltothefunctioningofthedemocraticlegal
order(effect).
5

Islamicradicalisationandright-wingextremistradi-
calisationformthegreatestsocialthreatcurrently
facingtheNetherlands.Thisactionplanfocuses
onthatthreat.Otherformsofradicalisationinthe
3
CoalitionagreementCDA,PvdA,
ChristenUnie,7February2007,p.3.
4
Thespiritandelaborationofthis
actionplanisbasedonthecoalition
agreementandontheacquired
knowledgeandexperiencewith
regardtothisfleaswordedinthe
reportsandparliamentarydocuments
referredtobelow:
ParliamentaryDocument20042005
29754no.4Paper'FromDawato
Jihad'.
ParliamentaryDocument20042005
29754no.26PaperRadicalismand
Radicalisation'.
ParliamentaryDocument2004-2005
29754no.27Paper'Resilienceand
IntegrationPolicy'.
ParliamentaryDocument20052006
29754no.30PaperLocalandJustice
Departmentapproachtoradicalism
andradicalisation.
ParliamentaryDocuments2004
200629754nos.5,24,60,73,94
Progressreportsoncombating
terrorism.
WetenschappelijkeRaadvoorhet
Regeringsbeleid,reportno.73:
ReportingDynamicsinIslamicactiv-
)
Netherlandsincludeanimalrightsactivism
6
and
extremeleft/anti-globalists.
3. Goals of the action plan
Theactionplanhasthefollowinggoals:
Thepreventionof(further)processesofisola-
tion,polarisationandradicalisationbythe(re-)
inclusionofpeoplewhoareatriskofslipping
awayorturningawayfromDutchsocietyandthe
democraticlegalorder.Thisincludessuchthings
as,inparticularinclusionthrougheducation,
traineeshipsandwork.(prevention)
Theearlysignallingoftheseprocessesbyadmin-
istratorsandprofessionalsandthedevelopment
ofanadequateapproach.(pro-action)
Theexclusionofpeoplewhohavecrossedclear
boundariesandseeingtoitthattheirinfuence
onothersislimitedasmuchaspossible.(repres-
sion)
Theapproachatlocal,nationalandinternational
levelisdescribedinChapter5.
Progresswillbemonitoredbymeansofperiodic
measurements.Polarisationandradicalisation
arenoteasytomeasure,butitispossible.The
measurementswilltakeplaceattwolevels:thede
factosituationandtheperceivedsituation.
InSeptember2007,inconsultationwithresearch
expertsinthisarea,theexactsetofindicatorswill
beestablishedonthebasisofwhichthemeasure-
mentsaretotakeplace.Aspecialpointofthis
setofindicatorsisthefactthatusewillbemade
ism.Startingpointsfordemocratisa-
tionandhumanrights(2006)and
exploratorypaperno.13:'Beliefin
thepublicdomain:explorationsofa
doubletransformation(2006).
5
SeealsotheAIVDdefnitionof
radicalism:the(active)strivingfor
and/orsupportingoffar-reaching
changesinsociety,whichcanentaila
riskfor(thecontinuedexistenceof )
thedemocraticlegalorder(goal),
possiblybymeansofapplying
undemocraticmethods(means),
whichcouldbedetrimentaltothe
functioningofthedemocraticorder
(effect)(AIVDreportFromDawato
Jihad,p.15).
6
InJune2007theSecondChamber
oftheDutchParliamentwillreceive
aseparateletterbytheMinistersof
theInteriorandKingdomRelations
andJusticeintheNetherlandsonthe
specifcapproachtoanimalrights
extremism,inwhichthecoopera-
tionwiththeUnitedKingdominthe
areaofanimalrightsextremismin
described.
8
ofsourcesfromthevariousrelevantministries,
municipalities,operationalservicesandrelevant
inspectionservicesthathadnotbeenbundledin
thisformbefore.Themeasurementwillbebased
onexistingsourcesasmuchaspossible.
7

Azero-measurementwiltakeplaceinOctober
2007,makingitpossibletodeterminethetarget
fgureforthereductionofpolarisationandradi-
calisationduringthiscabinetperiod.TheMinister
ofForeignAffairsreportsontheprogressannu-
ally,partlyonbehalfoftheotherrelevantcabinet
members.
4. Who is susceptible to polarisation
and radicalisation?
Thepeoplewhoaresusceptibletopolarisation
andradicalisationareprimarilyyouths(generally
youngerthan30)whoarelookingfortheiridentity
orcalling.Theyareusuallymen,butthenumberof
womenisincreasing,bothinanideologicallysup-
portiveroleandasanactiveparticipant.
Islamicradicalisationgenerallyoccursamong
youngpeoplelookingformeaning(religious/
ideologicaldimension)orseekingtoestablisha
bondandgainrecognitionwithinthegroup(social-
culturaldimension).Athirdimportantdimension
isthepoliticaldimension,basedontheperception
ofinjusticevis--visthemselvesorvis--visother
Muslimsathomeandabroad.Thisrelatestoboth
youngpeoplewhohavebeenMuslimssincebirth,
and(ethnicminority)converts.
7
Thinkofthenumberofreportsof
inter-ethnicincidentstotheeducation
inspectorate,reportsofdiscrimina-
tiontothepoliceandthediscrimina-
tionreportingcentre,percentage
ofschooldrop-outs,thepositionof
youngpeopleonthelabourmarket,
etc.Itwillbeanextensivesetof
indicators,wherebyasmuchuse
aspossiblewillbemadeofexisting
sources.Thesetofindicatorsalso
alignswiththeindicatorswhichthe
NationalSecurityProgramme(Minis-
tryofForeignAffairs)applieswiththe
half-yearlyhorizonscanpolarisa-
tionandradicalisationandwiththe
knowledgeandinformationinthe
areaofradicalisationintheTerrorism
ThreatAnalysisintheNetherlands
(DTN)oftheNCTb.
::
Right-wingextremistradicalisationoftenoccurs
amongyoungpeoplewhofeelfrustratedaboutthe
multiculturalsociety,whichtheyviewasthecause
ofunemploymentorhousingshortages(social-
culturalandpolitical-activistdimension).These
youngpeopleareusuallyadherentsofnationalist
ideas,sometimespoliticallyactive.Thereligious/
ideologicaldimensionplaysvirtuallynoroleinthe
caseofright-wingextremistradicalisation.
8
5. Approach
5.0 Three-track approach with primacy in
the hands of the local administration
Tacklingpolarisationandradicalisationisprimarily
amatterforthelocalgovernmentandmunicipali-
ties.Actionsatthislocallevelshouldbeaimed
atprevention,signallingandintervention.These
actionsshouldbeperformedtogetherwithprofes-
sionalssuchasneighbourhoodpoliceoffcers,
youthworkers,teachers,CWIemployees,truancy
offcersandbeembeddedinthelocal(security)
policy.
Inadditionitisimportanttodeploygeneraland
specifcpoliciesat national levelwhichsupports
andfacilitatethislocalapproach.
Thethirdtrackrelatestothecooperationat inter-
national levelwiththereductionofpolarisationand
radicalisation(insideandoutsideoftheEU)and
thealignmentwithforeignpolicy.
8
Recentresearch,Proudofthe
NetherlandsbythePoliceAcademy
(2007),showsthatitisimportantnot
toimmediatelylabelthe"Londsdale"
youthsasright-wingextremists.By
viewingtheLonsdaleissueassolely
anuisanceandcriminalityproblem
thereistheriskoftrivialisation,butby
viewingtheproblemasbydefnition
beingright-wingradicalism,over-esti-
mationisalsoarisk.
:z :y
5.1 Further elaboration of local approach
Theproposedlocalapproachconsistsofgiving
neighbourhoodsorplaceswheresignalsof
polarisationorradicalisationarevisibleanareaor
neighbourhood-orientedtreatmentwhichconsists
ofacombinationofsoftandhard.Thelocal
governmentassumesthedirectiveroleinthis
process.
Softcanincludetheorganisationofmeetingsand
debates,promotionofdiscussionaboutand
introductiontovariousideologies,creationof
traineeshipsorworkplaces,specifclabourmarket
supervisionforhigh-riskgroupsandmonitoring
schooldrop-outs.
Hardcan,forexample,consistofenforcing
compulsoryschoolattendance/aclearapproach
totacklingtruancy,agreeingandenforcingconduct
rules,moresupervisiononthestreet,perhapsthe
settingupa'neighbourhoodboardingschool'
whereparentscanenroltheirchildrenona
voluntarybasis,inspectionofsocialsecurityanda
zero-tolerancepolicywithregardtodiscrimination.
Local approach working method
InclosecooperationwiththeAssociationofNeth-
erlandsMunicipalities(VNG),thenationalgovern-
mentwillcarryoutascantoidentifytheareasor
neighbourhoodsintheNetherlandswherethereare
signsofpolarisationand/orradicalisation.
910

Thesemunicipalitiescanthenprepareamore
9
Whenselectingthe40neighbour-
hoodstheMinisterofLiving
Environment,Neighbourhoodsand
Integration(WWI)madeuseofsocial-
economicandphysicalindicators.
Fromtheperspectiveofpolarisation
detailedanalysis,makinguseoftheknowledge
ofteachers,neighbourhoodpoliceoffcers,youth
workers,etc.,inthemunicipality/neighbour-
hood.Theresultsofthisanalysiscanleadtoan
actionplangearedtothespecifclocalsituation
(tailor-made).Thenationalgovernmentsupports
themunicipalitiesuponrequestwhenprepar-
ingthisdetailedanalysisandtheplanofapproach,
primarilywithknowledgeandmakingbestpractices
available.Thecostsfortheimplementationofthe
approachwillbebasedonasystemofco-fnancing.
Allrelevantexperiencesandresources(products)
whichresultfromthisapproacharealsoavailable
forallothermunicipalitiesinaknowledgedata-
basetobemanagedtogetherbytheVNGandthe
nationalgovernment.Incaseofspecifcissuesat
locallevelitispossibletoconsultthisknowledge
centrefortailor-madeadvice(consultant/advisory
functionoftheknowledgecentre).Theintentionis
toplacetheknowledgecentreunderoneoftheex-
istingknowledgenetworksandinformationcentres.
5.2 General and specifc policy at
national level
Theprimacyofthelocalgovernmentdoesnot
detractfromthefactthatitisalsoimportanttoes-
tablishageneralandspecifcpolicyat national level
.Theimplementationofaneffectivepolicyrelating
tothepreventionandcombatingofpolarisation
andradicalisationtouchesonmanypolicyareas:
employment,education,safety,integration,eman-
cipation,healthcare,housing,youthpolicy,foreign
andradicalisationitisimportantthat
theMinisterofWWIhasinvolvedthe
followingindicatorsinherselec-
tion:income,work,education,social
nuisanceandperceivedsafety.This
entailsthattherecanbesomeoverlap
betweentheselectedneighbourhoods
fromtheperspectiveofWWIandthe
neighbourhoodsthatrequirespecial
attentionfromtheperspectiveof
polarisationandradicalisation.When
specifcneighbourhoods/areas
coincide,onthebasisofthepolarisa-
tionandradicalisationscan,withthe
neighbourhoodswhichtheMinister
ofWWIcountsamongherneighbour-
hoodsforattention,cooperationand
alignmentwillimmediatelybesought
withthefurtherapproach.However,it
isamisconceptionthatrisingpolari-
sationandradicalisationoccuronlyin
theunderprivilegedneighbourhoods.
10
ThemunicipalitiesofRotterdamand
Amsterdamareaddingtheirown
expertisetosettingupandexecuting
thescan.
:6 :)
policy,etc.Althoughthesepolicyareasnaturally
havetheirowngoals,theymakeanimportant
contributiontothepreventionandcurbingof
polarisationandradicalisation.
BesidestheVNGandvariousmunicipalities,eight
cabinetmembersareinvolvedinthiscabinet-wide
ActionPlan:theMinistersoftheInterior(BZK),
Justice,theLivingEnvironment,Neighbourhoods
andIntegration(WWI),SocialAffairsandEmploy-
ment(SZW),PublicHealth,WelfareandSport
(VWS),YouthandFamily,Education,Culture
andScience(OCW)andForeignAffairs(BZ).All
relevantcabinetmembershaveshownthatthey
arewillingtoworktogetherandimplementthis
actionplanjointly(integratedapproachatnational
governmentlevel).
TheNationalSecurityStrategyhasbeendeveloped
paralleltothepolarisationandradicalisationaction
plan.ThisstrategywassenttotheSecondChamber
ofParliamentinApril2007.PartoftheNational
SecurityWorkProgrammerelatestotheprepara-
tionofthreatanalysesandariskevaluationof
polarisationandradicalisationintheNetherlands.
Thepersonsdirectlyinvolvedwiththepolarisation
andradicalisationactionplanandtheNational
SecurityProgrammeworktogethercloselyand
makeuseofeachother'sinformation.Forexample,
themonitorwillmakeuseoftheindicatorsand
fguresthatareappliedalsobytheNational
SecurityProgramme.
5.2.1 General policy at national level
Thegeneralpolicyatnationallevelfocusesona
regularpolicywhichisnotspecifcallygearedto
thereductionofpolarisationandradicalisation,
butdoesmakeanimportantcontributioninthis
respectbyremovingpossiblebreedinggroundsof
polarisationandradicalisation.Theresponsibility
fortheseareasforattentionlieswiththeresponsi-
bledepartments.
Thinkofsuchtopicsas:
Specialattentionforpromotinglong-termpar-
ticipationofyouthsonthelabourmarket.This
startsbyprovidingagoodalignmentbetween
educationandthelabourmarket,providingsuit-
abletraineeshipsforyouthsandextrasupervi-
sionofyouthswhoareatriskofdroppingoutof
vocationaleducation(includepeopleinsociety
througheducation,traineeshipsandwork).
Counteractingearlyschooldrop-outandbetter
alignmenteducationlabourmarket.
Promotingeconomic,socialandpoliticalpartici-
pationofyoungpeople.
Housingpolicyforyoungpeople.
Citizenshipandsocialintegrationasthecore
goalineducation.
Child-rearingsupport,gearedtogoodintegration
ofyoungpeopleintoDutchsociety.
Combatingcriminalityamongyoungpeopleand
tacklingyouthproblems.
Combatingdiscrimination.
Promotingintegration,participationandmutual
acceptance.
Emancipation.
:8
5.2.2 Specifc policy at national level
Thespecifcpolicyatnationallevelisgearedto
preventing,impedingandcombatingpolarisation
andradicalisation.Thespecifcpolicyfocuseson
facilitatingthelocalapproachasbestaspossible
andonpolicythatreallyhastobeimplementedon
anationallevelintheframeworkofthereduction
ofpolarisationandradicalisation(usuallyonthe
requestofmunicipalities).

Incloseconsultationandontherequestofthe
municipalitiesinvolvedinpreparingthisaction
plan,thefollowingpolicylineshavebeendefned
wherebythenationallevelcansupportthelocal
approach:
Increasingresilienceandabondwithsocietyof
individualsandgroupswhoaresusceptibleto
polarisationandradicalisation,andtheirenviron-
ment(parents/educators,etc.).
Increasingcompetenciesofthelocalgovern-
mentandprofessionalsthatfrequentlyworkwith
youthsandyouthgroups.
Earlyisolation,containmentandreversal
ofextremetendenciesofpolarisationand
radicalisation.
Furtherelaborationofthesethreepolicypoints
issetoutbelow.Inrecenttimesastarthasbeen
madewithcounteractingradicalisation.Nowthis
isexplicitlybeingsupplementedwiththewishto
tacklepolarisationinastructuralmanner.Itis
importantduringimplementationtocontinually
searchforakeenbalancebetweenpreventionand
z:
repression.Theexactinputandprioritisationfor
eachofthesepolicypointsfromtheministries
directlyinvolvedwillberecordedannuallyinan
operationalyearplan.
1
Increasing resilience and the bond with society for
individuals and groups who may be susceptible to
polarisation and radicalisation and their environ-
ment
Inordertopreventpolarisationandradicalisation,
itisnecessarytorecognisethefactorsthatcan
haveacatalysingeffectonaradicalisationprocess
whichayoungpersongoesthroughorwhich
persuadesothersto(tacitly)supportyouthsinthis
respect.Thisconcernsofferingpeopletheopportu-
nitytofullyparticipateinDutchsociety.Besides
removingthebreedinggroundsitisimportantthat
citizensacceptthattheNetherlandsisanopen,
pluralisticsocietywherevariousrelationshipsand
lifestylesexistsidebyside.Respectforand
appreciationofdemocracyandthedemocratic
stateandloyaltytocorevaluesareconcomitant
features.
zz
Actions
Promotetheknowledgeandskillsofdemocratic
citizenshipamongyouthswhoareattractedto
right-wingextremismorIslamicradicalisation.
Involveparentsviaeducation,citizenship/inte-
grationprojectsandchild-rearingsupportinthe
socialisationanddevelopmentoftheirchildren.
Teachparentstodialoguewithchildrenwhoare
attractedbyradicalviews.
11
Reinforcethetieswhichbindyouthstosociety
througheducation,traineeshipsandwork.
Promoteknowledgeofyouthsingeneralabout
variousculturesandtheirsimilarities,theprinci-
plesofthedemocraticstate,ourforeignpolicy,
religionsandtheirjoint,recenthistory(through
educationandsocialstudies).
12

Stimulatemultiformrangeof(non-extremist)
interpretationsofIslam(viaeducation,media
andtheInternet).
FamiliariseimmigrantswiththeDutchdemocrat-
iclegalorderandsociety,includingincreasing
theknowledgeamongindigenousDutchcitizens
aboutthereligionandcultureofnewDutch
citizens'.
Makeandmaintaincontactswithkeyfguresand
Muslimorganisationsinordertojointlyincrease
resilience.
Takeaclearnationalstanceandofferaretortto
radicalexpressionsinsocietywhichmaybea
breedinggroundforpolarisationorevenradicali-
sation.

11
Thisisaspecifcaspectforwhich
specialattentionwasrequested
duringtheworkvisitofMinister
TerHorsttotheSlotervaartneigh-
bourhoodon16April2007.
12
Withintheintegrationpolicy,the
MinisterofWWIintendstopay
specialattentiontotheintercultural
dialogue.
z zy
2
Increase competencies of the local government and
professionals who frequently work with youths and
youth groups
Inordertobeabletotaketimelyactionitisim-
portantthattheeyesandearsofthelocalgovern-
mentandprofessionalswhofrequentlyworkwith
youngpeople(likethepolice,youthworkers,etc.)
areopentothesignalsofpolarisationandradicali-
sation.Thinkofsuchthingsaseducation,where
teachersindicatethattheyareincreasinglybeing
confrontedwithradicalexpressionsandtendencies
ofisolationwithintheirowncircle.Itoftenturns
outtobediffculttoproperlypickupthesignals
andtoensurethatthereisanadequateresponse.
Thatiswhyitisimportantthattherelevantprofes-
siongroupsaresuffcientlyculturallycompetent
andknowtheyaresupportedtoactuallyrealisein-
terventions(onasmallscale).Finally,agreements
arenecessaryregardingthepassingonofsignals
thatindicatefarther-reachingradicalisation.
Anumberofactionshavebeenstartedupinthis
area.Assistancefortacklingpolarisationandradi-
calisationisavailabletolocalgovernmentsand
professionals.Neighbourhoodoffcershaveunder-
gonebasictraining.Followingontoandsupple-
mentarytotheseactivitiesitisimportanttokeep
investinginincreasingthecompetenciesoflocal
governmentsandprofessionalswhofrequently
workwithyouthsandyouthgroups.
Actions
Developtools/methodstoofferaretorttoradical
expressionsforadministrators,teachers,police
andyouthworkers.Encourageongoingdiscus-
sionwithpeoplewhopresentradicalideasand
clearlysetouttheboundariesofademocratic
society.
Vision-formingonspecifcissuesrelatedto
polarisationandradicalisation.Example:How
canthenationalgovernmentandmunicipalities
cooperatewithsocialandreligiousorganisations
withoutinfringingtheseparationofchurchand
stateintheNetherlands?
Deploymentofteamsofexperts,imamsand
Islamicscholarswhoprovidesupportindealing
withincreasingpolarisationand/orradicalisation.
Organiseregionalplatformswhereadministra-
torsandprofessionalscanexchangeinformation
andobtainknowledge.
Organisetrainingcoursesandworkshopsfor
professionals.

3
Early isolation, containment and reversal of polarisa-
tion and radicalisation
Incaseof(acontributionto)far-reachingradicali-
sation,whichinthemostextremecasecouldresult
inviolenceand/orterrorism-relatedactivities,
actionmustbetakentopreventfar-reaching
consequences.Thisactioncanbedescribedasthe
isolationorcontainmentoftheradicalisedperson
ororganisation.Persituationitwillbereviewed
z6 z)
whatthebestapproachappearstobe,depending
onthestageoftheradicalisationprocess.Where
necessaryandpossible(penal)actionwillbetaken.

Actions
Counteractdisseminationofhighlypolarising
andradicalviewsviatelevision,CD-roms,reading
materialandontheinternet.
Counteracthate-incitingandradicalmessages
in,amongotherplaces,prayerhouses,prisons,
schoolsandyouthcentres.
Tackle(thefnancialorverbalsupportfor)radical
networks.
Continuetotackleradicalisationhearthsandthe
individual-orientedapproach.
Tackledisseminationofradicalexpressions
(usuallyinitiatedfromtheradicalisationhearths)
togetherwithlocaladministration.
De-radicalisationprocesses,e.g.bymeansof
specifcinterventionsinprisonsandinrehabilita-
tionprojects.
5.3 Cooperation at international level and
foreign policy
5.3.1 Cooperation at international level
ThesituationintheNetherlandsdoesnotstand
alone.Othercountriesalsohavetodealwithan
increaseinpolarisationandradicalisation.How-
ever,theformsofradicalisationvaryfromcountry
tocountry.Forexample,Englandhasatraditionin
theareaofanimalrightsextremism.Germanyhas
moreexperiencewithtacklingright-wingextremism
andextremeexpressionsofanti-globalism.
In2005,theEuropeanUnionadoptedtheEU
radicalisationandrecruitmentactionplan.The
Netherlandsisplayinganactiveroleintheimple-
mentation.Thisincludessuchthingsasknowledge
exchangeandsharinggoodexperienceinEUcon-
text.AtpresenttheCouncilofEuropeisspecifcally
interestedintheinterventionoptionsintheareaof
polarisationandradicalisation(bestpractices).
TheBeneluxcountriesareworkingtogetheronthe
reductionof(inparticular)radicalisationthrough
cooperationinthefeldofscientifcresearch,the
stimulationofamultiformrangeoftopicsrelating
toIslamontheInternetandestablishingexchange
programmesbetweenprofessionals(learningfrom
eachother'sexperiencesandapproaches).
13

Inaddition,theNetherlandsworkstogetherwitha
fewspecifccountrieswheretheproblemsofpolari-
sationandradicalisationoccuronasimilarscale.

13
VanSenningenMemorandum,Action
Plan2007,hasnotyetbeenformally
adopted(negotiationsstillongoing).
z8 zj
TheNetherlandsmaintainsbilateralcontactswith
theUnitedKingdom,Denmark,France,theUnited
StatesandCanadainthisarea.
Itisnoteworthythatinternationalattentionprima-
rilyfocusesonpreventionofandinterventioninthe
eventofradicalisation.TheNetherlandspaysmore
attentiontocounter-actingpolarisationthanother
countries.Internationallythereismuchinterestfor
thelocalapproachfavouredbytheNetherlands.

5.3.2 Foreign policy

Theproblemsrelatingtoradicalisationshowus
thatdevelopmentsabroadcanhaveaneffecton
safetyintheNetherlands.
14
Personalcontactsand
communicationwiththemedia,includingthe
Internet,willcreateanincreasingsenseofcohe-
sion.Thepolicyforthereductionofpolarisation
andradicalisationwillthereforebecloselyaligned
withtheeffortsinthisareafromtheMinistryof
ForeignAffairs.
15
14
ThinkofdevelopmentsintheIsraeli/
Palestinianissue,butalsotheless
self-evidentdevelopmentsabroad
suchastheinfammatorycartoonsin
Denmark.
15
SeealsoParliamentaryDocument
2006-200730800no.5Vander
LaanMotionrelatingtothebreeding
groundsforterrorism.
16
Thisfnancingdoesnotincludecosts
forrecruitingspecifccivilservantsfor
thistopicatmunicipallevel,butthink
ofco-fnancingforpreparingaplanof
approach,forspecifctraining,forthe
structureofspecifcprojects,etc.
6. Costs and fnancing
Thecostsofthelocalapproach,ofthespecifc
policyatnationallevelandofcooperationat
internationallevelaretobefnancedfromthepillar
fundsintheCoalitionAgreementforsafety,stability
andrespect(pillar5).Thisisabudgetof28million
fortheperiod2007-2011.
Activity
Scanandmonitor
Seeunder3
Riskareaapproach
(cofnancing)
16
Seeunder5.1
Expertisefunction
(knowledgecenterand
informationfunctieon)
Seeunder5.1
SpecifcInstruments/
nationalandinternational
niveau
Seeunder5.2.2and5.3
Total
2011
0,2
4
0,8
1
6
2010
0,2
4
0,8
1
6
2009
0,2
4
0,8
1
6
2008
1
5
2
2
10
Colofon
UitgavevanhetMinisterievanBinnenlandseZaken
enKoninkrijksrelaties
Vormgeving:TotalIdentity,Amsterdam