From state to social actors in extremism prevention: a state of the art

Abstract

This article presents a review of the academic literature (2005-2020) analyzing the policies for the prevention of extremism implemented in the European Union. Based on a review of the works published in the WOS, we reflect on the pillars composing these practices. To present the results of the literature review, the EU Radicalisation Awareness Network’s structure (RAN) is used (its working groups and topic-oriented organization). It is concluded that the preventive paradigm relies on the enlistment of social actors (from the field of social policy and organized civil society). Some challenges and blind spots of this approach are pointed out.