EU:S OCH SVERIGES SOCIALPOLITISKA FÖRHÅLLNINGSSÄTT TILL FÖREBYGGANDET AV TERRORISM - En kvalitativ studie av strategidokument

Abstract

Radicalization is one of the major problems of our time. If it is not prevented, extremism can turn into terrorism which is a threat of the democracy. Previous research shows that social policy approaches are important for successful counter-terrorism work. Research also shows that too little focus on social problems can lead to increased radicalization. The question is to which extent Sweden's and the EU's strategy documents are characterized by a social policy approach to terrorism? The purpose of this work is to examine to which extend the EU and Sweden are characterized by social policy approaches in their strategy documents against terrorism studied in accordance with Moghaddam's staircase model. In order to achieve the purpose, a selection of strategy documents from the EU and Sweden is analyzed through the staircase model. Moghaddam explains the radicalization process through six steps to the final step, "terrorism". By applying the model to the strategy documents, the aim is to analyze to which extent the EU's and Sweden's strategies are related to socio – political approaches in their strategy documents against terrorism in relation to Moghadam's theory. The results from the analysis show that Sweden's strategies are based on “promote”, “prevent” and “discourage”. EU strategies are based on “prediction”, “prevention”, “protection” and “reaction”. The strategies aim to counteract push factors such as social exclusion. According to Moghaddam's first step in the model, push factors affect pre-radicalization, which must be prevented on time. The first steps during a radicalization process are crucial for how the problem is to be solved through different strategies. The EU's and Sweden's social-political approach is to promote education, knowledge and critical thinking and offer young people support and security. The higher up an individual moves in the staircase model, the more difficult it becomes to apply strategies that work.