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Course outline:

This webinar explores the process of radicalisation and the factors that can influence why extremist messaging may resonate with some individuals. It will distinguish between radical beliefs, extremism and violent extremism, while emphasising that radicalisation is not a universal or linear process. The session will consider the particular relevance of adolescence, trauma and adverse childhood experiences, while avoiding assumptions that these factors predict involvement in violent extremism.

The webinar will also focus on recognising meaningful indicators of concern, particularly where there are patterns of change, escalation and movement towards the justification, glorification or preparation of violence. Participants will be encouraged to consider behaviour within its wider personal, social and environmental context rather than relying on isolated warning signs or checklists.

Training topics will include:

• Understanding radicalisation and distinguishing between radical beliefs, extremism and violent extremism, including the non-linear nature of radicalisation and the possibility of change and disengagement.
• Understanding push and pull factors, including the role of grievance, identity, belonging, relationships and status, and how these can shape receptivity to extremist messaging.
• Considering why adolescence can be a significant developmental period without treating normal adolescent behaviours as indicators of radicalisation.
• Understanding how adverse childhood experiences, trauma and attachment disruption may interact with other individual, relational and environmental factors.
• Using online misogynistic and grievance-based communities to illustrate how ideological environments can engage with individual grievances and needs.
• Distinguishing factors that may shape susceptibility to extremist messaging from meaningful indicators of progression towards violent extremism.
• Recognising patterns of change, clustering, escalation and direction of travel.
• Recognising patterns that may indicate increasing orientation towards, justification of or preparation for violence.

Learning outcomes:

• Develop a clearer understanding of radicalisation and its relationship to extremism and violent extremism.
• Understand why there is no single pathway, profile or timeline associated with radicalisation.
• Increase knowledge of the individual, relational, ideological and environmental factors that may shape susceptibility to extremist messaging.
• Understand why adolescence, trauma and adverse childhood experiences should not be treated as predictors of violent extremism, while recognising how they may interact with other individual, relational and environmental factors to increase susceptibility to extremist messaging.
• Develop confidence in distinguishing behaviours that may reflect broader developmental or psychosocial concerns from indicators specifically suggesting progression towards violent extremism.
• Understand the importance of considering change, clustering, context and direction of travel when assessing concerns.
• Increase confidence in recognising signs that an individual may be moving towards the justification, glorification or preparation of violence.

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Speaker: Juncal Fernandez-Garayzabal Gonzalez, PhD, Development & Program Manager at Counter Extremism Project and a fellow at the European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS). 

Juncal Fernandez-Garayzabal Gonzalez is a linguist by training, her PhD dissertation analysed the parallels between recruitment mechanisms employed by human trafficking networks and extremist groups, and based on results, concluded that existing psychosocial programs aimed at preventing re-recruitment among survivors of human trafficking could be tailored to reduce recidivism among those seeking to leave extremist groups. Her research experience and insights were shaped while working at institutions Georgetown University, Universidad Pontificia Comillas (Madrid), the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies and UNICEF Spain. She also gained first-hand experience in understanding conflicts, forced migrations, organized crime, security, and peacebuilding while in Latin America and Africa, where she provided psychosocial support to internally displaced populations and other victims of extremism and violence in post- conflict settings. Since obtaining her PhD dissertation in 2018, Juncal has mostly focused on developing her practitioner skills. She has designed and led nine projects funded by the United States government and other international bodies aimed at rehabilitating and reintegrating individuals involved in extremist groups (including foreign fighters) across the globe, including the U.S., South and Central Asia, the Middle East, and the Balkan region. Only in the U.S., she has engaged with over 100 individuals in different stages of the radicalization process and worked with almost 70 individuals incarcerated for terrorism-related offenses. Her hands-on experience has provided her with a deep understanding of radicalization processes and how recruitment mechanisms have evolved over the past years. Her publications include academic journals, written submissions to different government bodies, and government reports. She is also a frequent speaker at events organised by different multilateral platforms.