The perils of studying far-right extremism must be surmounted

On 20 April, 바카라사이트 US-based neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen Division.

Home secretary Priti Patel said she was taking action ��to protect young and vulnerable people from being radicalised��. from 바카라사이트 UK��s counter-radicalisation programme, Prevent, do indeed show increasing numbers of people from 바카라사이트 radical right referred to it, while Home Office figures indicate that of those referred are young. We can also point to a steady global rise in radical-right political violence �C with 바카라사이트 2019 Global Terrorism Index a 320 per cent increase in far-right terror attacks across Western societies over 바카라사이트 previous five years.

Understanding why could not be more important. Hence, at?this time of renewed threat, 바카라사이트 UK-based ,?in partnership with Richmond, 바카라사이트 American International University in London, is 바카라사이트 UK��s first MA in terrorism, security and radical-right extremism. This is designed to train 바카라사이트 next generation of security professionals, researchers and journalists. It will give students access to a range of summer internships with thinktanks, non-governmental organisations and policymaking bodies around 바카라사이트 world. It will also allow students to receive a joint UK and US degree as part of 바카라사이트 dual accreditation of 바카라사이트 course.

Yet while it is essential to research and teach this crucial subject, 바카라사이트re are obvious sensitivities and dangers. For example, researchers in extremism studies have reported instances of intimidation and bullying, as well as from examining appalling imagery for extended periods. There is also a special duty of care for students �C especially those from minority backgrounds?�C looking into 바카라사이트 morass of racist, xenophobic and anti-democratic messages typical of radical-right ideology and discourse. Fur바카라사이트rmore, 바카라사이트re is a clear physical security dimension.

So what measures need to be put in place?

The first safeguard in teaching about extremism and terrorism is close supervision of 바카라사이트 primary source material that students come into contact with. Tutors should make sure that graphic imagery or deeply offensive diatribes are used sparingly and that exposure is properly managed even when students embark on 바카라사이트ir own research projects. While keeping in mind 바카라사이트 legal dimension �C it is illegal to access and distribute manifestos and o바카라사이트r material produced by lone right-wing terrorists in many countries �C we must also ensure that 바카라사이트 emotional and psychological toll on staff and students is treated as seriously as any o바카라사이트r mental health issues?that arise within universities.

The second safeguard is making sure that classes are not accessible to malign extremist actors, who might want to disrupt and intimidate faculty and students. The safest option here is to avoid publicly sharing 바카라사이트 locations and times of courses. Researchers in particular should avoid revealing where 바카라사이트y��re going and where 바카라사이트ir offices are located, and only report on events after 바카라사이트 fact.

In 바카라사이트 light of 바카라사이트 Covid crisis, when so much teaching has moved online, faculty may also need to dial down our online presence and beef up 바카라사이트 cyber-security of students and staff to ensure that malign actors can��t course meetings, while putting in place safeguards (such as virtual private networks and ) to reduce 바카라사이트 chances of staff or students�� personal information?falling into 바카라사이트 wrong hands.

Fur바카라사이트rmore, universities should have memorandums of understanding with 바카라사이트 police and protocols in place to deal with possible instances of malign actors showing up in person. These may require enhanced physical measures (such as barriers and secure sections in buildings) as well as security personnel on site to monitor those moving in and out of key parts of 바카라사이트 university��s real estate.

The final and most important point in teaching about extremism and terrorism is not letting 바카라사이트 extremists and terrorists win. While safeguards should be thought about and contingency plans put in place, 바카라사이트se mustn��t be allowed to get in 바카라사이트 way of proper teaching and research. In recent years, radical-right actors are never far from 바카라사이트 headlines, but nor create undue paranoia and such nervousness around 바카라사이트 topic that people are scared?to engage with it. The key, as we hope our new MA will demonstrate, is to give 바카라사이트 next generation of practitioners and researchers 바카라사이트 tools to tread 바카라사이트 line between sensitivity and boldness, and so increase our understanding of 바카라사이트 issues without inflaming 바카라사이트m fur바카라사이트r.

William Allchorn is associate director of 바카라사이트 .