Countering Violent Extremist Measures - 'Best Practices' and Lessons Learned

As ever-evolving threats to the international system persist, the United States government has remained committed to actively countering the activities and violent behavior of al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations through a myriad of civilian and military policies and strategies. In pursuit of national security policy goals and objectives, public diplomacy initiatives and strategic counterterrorism communications strategies have since been developed to engage, inform, influence, and build relationships with foreign audiences. The U.S. State Department is confronted with an ongoing challenge of striking an appropriate balance between engaging the international community on positive terms and maintaining its credibility on the global stage while simultaneously countering violent extremist communications and messages.  

This Capstone provided a catalogue of best practices and lessons learned in communications strategies and messaging campaigns aimed at countering violent extremist messaging and preventing radicalization to extremist violence. The final report outlines four Areas of Focus derived from extensive research that CSCC should consider in its communications strategies and practices in the future:

• Employing counter-narrative approaches that focus on dispelling beliefs that legitimize violence and enhance efforts to address and diminish terrorist recruitment efforts;
• Framing a counterterrorism message in a more targeted, personalized and inclusive manner;
• Developing partnerships and creating channels for various stakeholders and interest groups to carry out the CSCC’s message in more nuanced ways; and
• Demonstrating that the U.S Government’s actions don’t contradict its rhetoric to ensure alignment where policy meets practice. 

The Capstone team has identified a set of effective short-term and long-term programs that can be brought to bear quickly in countries or areas where the threat to extremism is new. This set of programs could potentially allow the United States Government, the CSCC, and others involved in countering violent extremist messages to curtail the appeal of violent extremism before it gains a significant following.