Context and Objectives
Understanding how and why individuals disengage from violent extremism is as essential as understanding why they become involved. By examining desistance and exit trajectories, researchers and practitioners can identify key turning points and protective factors that bolster interventions, as well as common obstacles and pitfalls that may hinder successful outcomes for both service providers and individuals seeking to leave violent extremism behind.
In this novel systematic review, our primary objective is to synthesize the scientific literature on trajectories out of violent extremism, with the aim of identifying the main pathways and factors by which individuals desist from extremist ideologies and groups. To achieve this, we will:
Examine which factors emerge as more or less common or influential across successful desistance studies and narratives.
Conduct a thematic analysis focused on the process of disengagement—rather than merely the outcome—to determine how and why individuals abandon violent extremist groups and ideologies.
Propose a grounded theoretical model of social reintegration for individuals who have joined extremist groups (online or offline) or have committed extremist violence.
Document the current empirical research on trajectories out of violent extremism, highlighting gaps and trends in the literature.
Offer preliminary recommendations for practice, research, and policy to better support desistance and reintegration efforts.
