Building Community Resilience to Violent Extremism Through Genuine Partnerships

• NCJ Number: 252105
• Journal: American Psychologist Volume: 72 Issue: 3 Dated: 2017 Pages: 289-300
• Author(s): Heidi B. Ellis; Saida Abdi
• Date Published: 2017
• Length: 12 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2012-ZA-BX-0004
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Report (Technical Assistance); Report (Grant Sponsored); Program/Project Description; Instructional Material
• Award: Understanding Pathways to and away from Violent Radicalization among Resettled Somali Refugees

Annotation

This article explores strategies to harness community assets that may contribute to preventing youth from embracing violent extremism, drawing from models of community resilience as defined in relation to disaster preparedness.

Abstract

Research suggests that social connection is at the core of resilient communities, so any strategy to increase community resilience must both harness and enhance existing social connections while countering factors and conditions that damage or diminish them. First, the role of social connection within and between communities is explored, with attention to the ways in which social bonding and social bridging can diminish risk for violence. Second, research on the role of social connection between communities and institutions or governing bodies (termed social linking) is reviewed. This research is discussed in terms of how the process of government partnering with community members can both provide systems for early intervention for violent extremism, as well as strengthen bonding and bridging social networks. This contributes broadly to building community resilience. Finally, community-based participatory research, a model of community engagement and partnership in research, is presented as a road map for building true partnerships and community engagement. (Publisher abstract modified)