Preventing And Countering Violent Extremism In A Postcolonial Context

Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism in a Postcolonial Context

This book examines how global policies designed to prevent extremism have shaped religious and security governance in Tunisia in recent years, focusing on local programmes for training imams. By tracing the evolution of security measures in Tunisia from the colonial era to today, this book highlights how transnational security policies—particularly those promoted after 2011—have reinforced state control over religion. While many studies explore religion’s role in politics, this work shows how international security agendas influence religious institutions and discourse locally. Through interviews with religious leaders and civil society organizations, this book uncovers how Tunisian institutions have strategically used international counter-extremism frameworks to justify increased security measures. It also sheds light on the evolving role of imams as security actors. By linking past and present, this book challenges the idea that counter-extremism policies are “neutral”, showing instead how they often echo colonial-era policing. This book will be of interest to students of countering violent extremism, securitization, African studies, and International Relations in general.

Terrorism

This innovative text provides a much-needed critical introduction to terrorism. Cutting-edge research on contemporary issues is combined with new insights into long-debated issues such as the definition of terrorism, the nature of the terrorist threat and counter-terrorism strategies. Showing that the methods we adopt as well as the material we study are vital for a clear understanding of the subject, this text goes beyond traditional IR approaches to rethink popular beliefs and assumptions about terrorism. Taking a genuinely global and integrated approach, this book is an ideal entry into the study of terrorism. In the years since 9/11, terrorism has been transformed into an issue of global significance. Terrorism and the war on terror has affected virtually every aspect of modern life, and a precise understanding of terrorism is now more important - and contentious - than ever. This text examines the origins, perceptions of, and responses to, terrorism and counter-terrorism in the contemporary world. It takes into account recent developments on the world stage as well as within - and in response to - critical terrorism studies. This text is the ultimate companion for students studying terrorism as part of an undergraduate or postgraduate degree. It guides students step-by-step to have a deeper understanding of terrorism and a more nuanced approach to their studies.

Confronting Violent Extremism in Kenya