Anti-radicalisation interventions for first-line professionals: Differences in risk perceptions, strategy choices and prejudice between participants and non-participants

Abstract

The implementation of recent double-aimed interventions for first-line professionals to detect radicalisation and lower prejudice throughout Europe, urgently asks for research on the potential effects of these interventions. This study can be seen as a first step into such research, by comparing the radicalisation risk perception, strategy choices and prejudice towards Moroccan-Dutch minorities of participants of the anti-radicalisation intervention (N=120) with these of non-participants (N=67). Results of a quantitative vignette study showed that participants of the intervention reported significantly lower radicalisation risk perceptions than non-participants. However, no differences in the likelihood of informing a security chain worker or prejudice towards Moroccan-Dutch were revealed between participants and non-participants. In addition, 16 qualitative interviews were conducted among participants of the intervention. In these interviews, the participants indicated that the intervention led to more knowledge about the signs of radicalisation, how to act upon these, and how to be calmer and less fearful in their work when it comes to radicalisation. However, they also noticed the emphasis on the Moroccan-Dutch in the intervention and did not always agree with this focus. Future research should test the effects of these interventions more thoroughly by using a pre-test and relevant control measures, to enable us to talk about the chances in participants of the intervention due to the intervention.