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Strategies to Counter Extremism and Radicalisation in Swedish Schools – Managing Salafi Jihadists Attempts to Influence Students

Falkheimer, Jesper LU (2022) In Scandinavian Journal of Public Administration 26(1). p.67-86
Abstract

This article focuses on the importance that municipal schools have, and potentially can have, in counteracting radicalisation in relation to Salafist-Jihadist extremism in Sweden. The purpose of the study is to provide a review of previous research into radicalisation, with a specific focus on the role of schools. In addition to the review, there is a minor qualitative interview study with teachers and experts, which has the aim of creating a dialogue in relation to the research problem. Previous research and the interviews show that there are clear signs of anti-democratic views and values in Swedish schools, especially antisemitism and homophobia. A four-field model illustrates different approaches to radicalisation in schools.... (More)

This article focuses on the importance that municipal schools have, and potentially can have, in counteracting radicalisation in relation to Salafist-Jihadist extremism in Sweden. The purpose of the study is to provide a review of previous research into radicalisation, with a specific focus on the role of schools. In addition to the review, there is a minor qualitative interview study with teachers and experts, which has the aim of creating a dialogue in relation to the research problem. Previous research and the interviews show that there are clear signs of anti-democratic views and values in Swedish schools, especially antisemitism and homophobia. A four-field model illustrates different approaches to radicalisation in schools. Repression is something that is primarily dealt with by law and security agencies, however there is no legal support in Sweden for school management or teachers to identify and report students suspected of radicalisation. In the main, the interviewees supported an active, open and critical dialogue as the right strategy. This is also supported by much of the research on radicalisation. It is important that teachers are well-read and have the courage to raise issues that can be seen as controversial by some students. According to several of the teachers, this is not self-evident in a Swedish context where open conflicts of opinion disrupt consensus.

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author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
counter-extremism, radicalisation, Salafism, schools
in
Scandinavian Journal of Public Administration
volume
26
issue
1
pages
20 pages
publisher
University of Gothenburg, School of Public Administration
external identifiers
  • scopus:85151434719
ISSN
2001-7405
DOI
10.58235/sjpa.v26i1.7042
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
04cbb535-c0ef-48f1-b484-be215a6aa9fb
date added to LUP
2023-05-29 15:38:27
date last changed
2023-05-29 15:38:27
@article{04cbb535-c0ef-48f1-b484-be215a6aa9fb,
  abstract     = {{<p>This article focuses on the importance that municipal schools have, and potentially can have, in counteracting radicalisation in relation to Salafist-Jihadist extremism in Sweden. The purpose of the study is to provide a review of previous research into radicalisation, with a specific focus on the role of schools. In addition to the review, there is a minor qualitative interview study with teachers and experts, which has the aim of creating a dialogue in relation to the research problem. Previous research and the interviews show that there are clear signs of anti-democratic views and values in Swedish schools, especially antisemitism and homophobia. A four-field model illustrates different approaches to radicalisation in schools. Repression is something that is primarily dealt with by law and security agencies, however there is no legal support in Sweden for school management or teachers to identify and report students suspected of radicalisation. In the main, the interviewees supported an active, open and critical dialogue as the right strategy. This is also supported by much of the research on radicalisation. It is important that teachers are well-read and have the courage to raise issues that can be seen as controversial by some students. According to several of the teachers, this is not self-evident in a Swedish context where open conflicts of opinion disrupt consensus.</p>}},
  author       = {{Falkheimer, Jesper}},
  issn         = {{2001-7405}},
  keywords     = {{counter-extremism; radicalisation; Salafism; schools}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{67--86}},
  publisher    = {{University of Gothenburg, School of Public Administration}},
  series       = {{Scandinavian Journal of Public Administration}},
  title        = {{Strategies to Counter Extremism and Radicalisation in Swedish Schools – Managing Salafi Jihadists Attempts to Influence Students}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.58235/sjpa.v26i1.7042}},
  doi          = {{10.58235/sjpa.v26i1.7042}},
  volume       = {{26}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}