To combat violent extremism by exploring international 'alternative narrative' approaches

To combat violent extremism by exploring international 'alternative narrative' approaches. Key Findings include: Alternative narratives can work as preventative model Alternative is most successful if employed for prevention purposes rather as a challenge to people with extremist attitudes. Controversy of counter-narrative work Counter-narratives have been previously used a key approach to counter public attitudes and violent extremism, but the terminology is controversial. There has been a general consensus that you are not going to change someone’s mind by telling them their ideology is wrong. Role of government Government actors are not well-suited to act as a counter-narrative producer or messenger. Government tends to lack credibility with relevant target audiences. This research looks mainly at other new initiatives that are not solely reliant on government funds. Direct engagement Engaging directly with supremacists and extremists to foster dialogue. Social workers, former extremists and counsellors reach out to extremist recruiters. Digital companies tackling online hate and violent extremism Google, Facebook, Twitter, Microsoft and Yahoo etc are joining forces to tackle online hate and violent extremist content. These companies are joining with experts, governments and foundations to explore the importance of narrative and storytelling. It raises a bigger debate as to what role should a tech company play in countering violent extremism? Stronger focus needed on the Far-right In Australia the online space is more heavily weighted to the far right. Australia can learn from European experience on how to engage communities that are often distrustful of government. Media freedom and public trust in journalism The European Centre for Journalism supports various programs to provide research and analysis on the impact of media on public opinion in Europe. They found public trust is at an all-time low. Media Narratives around Immigration The REMINDER Project is a major international analysis of migration in and around the EU. This work explores how journalists perceive the national narratives around migration and what is hidden behind the scenes. There is a tendency to connect immigration with delinquency and crime, rather than stressing the benefits to a receiving country. Government Broadcasters + Editorial Integrity TRT World in Turkey is an interesting case study to look at regional narratives on violent extremism and the role of media and government and editorial integrity. Start Up Models Organisations like Moonshot and On Our Radar have established themselves with more of a start-up model. Both companies reinvest their profit into their research and development programs often considered too risky for funders. Participatory theatre and grassroots storytelling Participatory theatre and storytelling is a useful model for prevention-based work such as Search for Common Ground in Kenya, working with the criminal justice sector to engage with the most at-risk youth joining Al Shabab. Storytelling in refugee camps To enhance the morale and wellbeing of those in the camps storytelling workshops and theatre are being used to combat conflict and depression. Keywords: Migration, journalism, 'countering violent extremism. storytelling, 'alternative narratives', counter-narratives, refugees, immigration, conflict