斯德哥尔摩国际和平研究所-Preventing-violent-extremism-and-crime-in-the-Nordic-countries_-Similarities-synergies-and-ambiguities_20页_356kb

Summary of Preventing Violent Extremism and Crime in the Nordic Countries: Similarities, Synergies and Ambiguities

Core Content

This paper explores the relationship between violent extremism and crime in the Nordic countries, focusing on the convergence of prevention strategies for both phenomena. It highlights the importance of integrating insights from traditional crime prevention (CP) research into the study of violent extremism (PVE), emphasizing that the two are not entirely separate but share complex, overlapping dynamics.

The Nordic countries—Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden—have developed distinct yet interconnected approaches to PVE and CP. These strategies are informed by a combination of conceptual, strategic, and operational frameworks, which reveal both similarities and ambiguities in how the two fields are understood and addressed.

Main Views

• Conceptual Ambiguity:

  • The concept of violent extremism lacks a clear, universally accepted definition.
  • Similarly, crime is often defined in a way that is politically and contextually influenced, leading to inconsistencies in policy and research.
  • The distinction between organized crime and petty crime is blurred, with organized crime sometimes being used as a generic term.
  • Hate crime is also a contested concept, with varying interpretations across states and contexts.

• Empirical Overlaps:

  • Research indicates that individuals involved in violent extremism may also engage in traditional crimes at higher rates.
  • There is evidence that criminal and extremist groups may recruit from the same population, and that they may collaborate for mutual benefit.
  • The transition from traditional crime to ideologically motivated crime is a recognized phenomenon, often linked to personal motivations or a search for meaning.
  • Financial aspects, such as the use of criminal activities to fund extremist operations, are a significant overlap.

• Dynamic Relationship:

  • The paper emphasizes the need to understand the dynamic and multifaceted relationship between violent extremism and crime, rather than treating them as separate entities.
  • This relationship is influenced by factors such as social networks, prison environments, and the role of criminal activity in providing resources or legitimacy to extremist groups.
  • The complexity of these connections suggests that effective PVE strategies must also address crime prevention and vice versa.

• Nordic Context:

  • The Nordic countries have a long-standing tradition of effective crime prevention, reflected in their low homicide rates and strong welfare systems.
  • While CP has been the subject of systematic research for decades, PVE remains a less explored field.
  • The Nordic region has begun to develop cooperation in PVE, though it is still in its early stages compared to CP.
  • The Nordic Safe Cities programme and the Nordic network for preventing extremism are examples of cross-border collaboration in the field of PVE.

Key Information

Strategies and Frameworks

• Denmark:

  • PVE is integrated into existing CP structures.
  • The Danish approach is characterized by a comprehensive, inter-agency model that emphasizes collaboration across sectors.
  • The National Action Plan for 'Preventing and Countering Extremism and Radicalisation' (2016) includes measures targeting criminal groups and prisons.
  • The plan recognizes the link between radicalization and criminal behavior, and highlights the need for stricter measures against criminality in radicalized groups.
  • It includes initiatives such as the SSP (Schools, Social Services, Police) partnership and the KSP (Prison and Probation Service, Social Authorities, Police) model.

• Finland:

  • The National Action Plan for PVE (2016) emphasizes the importance of addressing the root causes of extremism.
  • It outlines a multi-sectoral approach, involving cooperation between different authorities.
  • There is a focus on preventing the crossover between criminal and extremist groups.

• Norway and Sweden:

  • Both countries have developed national action plans that reflect the complexity of the PVE and CP relationship.
  • The Nordic Safe Cities programme is a joint initiative aimed at reducing radicalization and violent extremism through local cooperation.

Conclusions

• The paper argues that the relationship between violent extremism and crime is not only theoretical but also operational, with significant empirical overlaps.
• Understanding these overlaps can lead to more resource-efficient and coherent prevention strategies.
• The Nordic context offers a unique opportunity for cross-border learning and collaboration, especially given the region’s strong tradition of crime prevention.
• However, the lack of a clear conceptual framework for both PVE and crime continues to hinder the development of effective and consistent prevention measures.
• The paper calls for more systematic research and analysis of the connections between violent extremism and crime, and for the development of integrated analytical models.