Violent extremism and resilience in the 21st century

At a time of great global uncertainty and instability, communities throughout Europe and the West face being fractured by the increasing influence of movements hostile to democratic and multicultural norms. European states have struggled to respond to the many cultural, socio-economic, political, and network-related factors increasingly understood as driving new forms of ‘extremism’. To do so, innovative and alternative approaches need to be supported and developed, alongside the sharing of resources and experiences across national borders. This chapter offers an introduction to recent trends in violent extremism and resilience, providing critical context and a conceptual introduction for the Handbook. Briefly tracing the development of what has come to be called ‘violent extremism’ in the twenty-first century, it highlights key events that have informed this process, such as terrorist attacks, policy changes, and civil society movements or organisations. The chapter also introduces the concept of resilience, providing an overview of its historical development and how it has come to be integrated within these discussions. It concludes with an overview of the upcoming chapters, exploring how they contribute to our understanding of resilience and the role it plays within current countering violent extremism (CVE).