SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS

At CPN-PREV, we are or have been involved in 8 different systematic reviews on the prevention of, assessment of, or the reduction of harms related to violent extremism and violent extremist content. Here, you will find a description of each systematic review, its progress towards completion, and a link to its deliverables (if available).

ONLINE RADICALIZATION

Main question: Can hateful/extremist content on the Internet and social media increase the risk for violent extremism of individuals that consume such content?

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY PVE PROGRAMS

Main questions: Are primary and secondary PVE programs effective in preventing violent extremism? Are there specific program modalities associated with a higher chance of success? How can we avoid negative side effects for individuals and communities?

TERTIARY PVE PROGRAMS

Main questions: Are tertiary prevention programs (otherwise known as disengagement or “deradicalization” programs) effective in making individuals desist from violent extremism, crime, and violent extremist groups? What are the more or less effective components of such programs? What are the parallels between empirically validated criminological interventions and tertiary PVE programs?

RISK ASSESSMENT TOOLS

Main questions: Are tools that assess the risk of violent extremism predictive of the outcomes they are purposed to predict? Are these tools fit for purpose for the various populations and contexts encountered in PVE practice? What are the potential benefits and harms associated with their use?

TRAJECTORIES INTO VIOLENT EXTREMISM

Main questions: Are there commonalities between the life trajectories of individuals that got involved in violent extremism? What are the main shift markers and tipping points in these trajectories that could be acted upon by practitioners?

ONLINE HARMS

Main questions: What are the impacts of exposure to, consumption of, or dissemination of hateful content on social media, the Internet, and traditional media for the individuals and communities targeted by it? What are the effects for promoters of that content? How can we prevent the individual and social harms caused by hateful content and rhetoric?

GOVERNMENT-LED MESSAGING CAMPAIGNS

Main questions: Are government-led communication campaigns intended to challenge, counteract, or neutralize violent extremist ideologies effective? Which elements of strategic communication interventions are (or are not) effective for their intended audience?

TRAJECTORIES OUT OF VIOLENT EXTREMISM

Main questions: What are the main pathways of individuals that successfully disengaged from violent extremism? What are the main drivers of success in terms of protective factors and turning points? What comparisons can be made with individuals that disengaged from crime, street gangs, and cults?