Firefighters or Arsonists? Debating the Role of Non-violent Islamists in Counter-radicalization Programs

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Over the last few years, understanding that simply dismantling terrorist networks without preventing the radicalization of new potential scores of militants is like playing a never-ending game of "whack-a-mole"; governments throughout the world have devised programs to prevent or reverse radicalization. Following the lead of several countries in the Middle East and East Asia, some Western governments have also adopted this "soft" approach to counterterrorism. Counter-radicalization programs differ heavily from one country to another, but they all stress the need of a deeper partnership with the Muslim community, which is considered a necessary ally. Yet the Muslim community of each Western country is hardly a homogeneous body, and its deep divisions along ethnic, linguistic, sectarian, and, most importantly, political lines, create significant challenges to governments attempting to choose their partners within it.

A source of heated debate among policymakers is, in particular, the role non-violent Islamists should play in counter-radicalization programs. While some consider them moderate and reliable partners that Western governments should use as assets in fighting radicalization, others believe that, while maintaining a moderate façade when dealing with Western establishments, in reality non-violent Islamists espouse a radical ideology that shuns integration and encourages violence, albeit indirectly. Authorities in most Western countries are faced with the same dilemma: can non-violent Islamists be engaged and used as partners against violent radicalization? Can they become partners against the appeal of jihadists?

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