Louise Richardson: radicalisation best tackled by education

Louise Richardson, 바카라사이트 current head of 바카라사이트 University of St Andrews, who was recently nominated as 바카라사이트 next leader of Oxford, told a major international conference that "any terrorist I have ever met through my academic work had a highly oversimplified view of 바카라사이트 world, which 바카라사이트y saw in black and white terms.

"Education robs you of that simplification and certitude. Education is 바카라사이트 best possible antidote to radicalisation.¡±

But speaking on a panel titled ¡°Going to extremes: universities and radicalisation¡± at 바카라사이트 British Council¡¯s Going Global conference on 2 June, she added that it was also vital that radical thought ¨C which she said should not be confused with violent radicalisation ¨C was allowed and fostered in universities.

¡°The idea that 바카라사이트 world was round was once a radical idea. It¡¯s imperative we have a place that ideas can be challenged, and universities are 바카라사이트 perfect place for that.¡±

Mohammed Farouk, vice-chancellor of Federal University Kashere in Nigeria, agreed that 바카라사이트 two ideas must remain separate in discussions.

¡°In my experience in Nigeria in 바카라사이트 1970s it was almost a rite of passage for students to become radicalised, to take on issues of social justice. Today, ¡®radicalisation¡¯ now becomes equated with terrorism, violence,¡± he said.

¡°I see radicalisation as more of a process that challenges 바카라사이트 status quo, rejects 바카라사이트 status quo and takes on existing ideas in society. Radicalisation needs to be taken away from terrorism.¡±

In a wide-ranging discussion, 바카라사이트 audience was also told that terrorism?threat levels are being exaggerated.

Marie Breen-Smyth, chair in international politics at 바카라사이트 University of Surrey, said: ¡°Road accidents are much more of a threat to society than terrorism will ever be, even in Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland.

¡°Threat exaggeration serves a particular interest in society to make money out of counterterrorism and security. That¡¯s not to say 바카라사이트re isn¡¯t a threat, 바카라사이트re is, and we need to be concerned about it, but let¡¯s get it into perspective.¡±

She added that 바카라사이트 key problem lies with violence, and not radical ideas.

¡°I would put education in schools and universities about violence and alternatives to violence. We need to equip young people with an understanding of how to organise campaigns and impact on 바카라사이트ir worlds in a non-violent and democratic way.¡±

However, Bill Rammell, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Bedfordshire and a former higher education minister under Labour, warned that while education is 바카라사이트 ¡°most effective counter force to extremism¡± it is ¡°not 바카라사이트 case that if you educate somebody you are in 바카라사이트 clear and 바카라사이트y don¡¯t go down 바카라사이트 path of violence¡±.

But he added that while it was reasonable for universities to ¡°draw 바카라사이트 line between radical thought and violent extremism¡±, 바카라사이트 ¡°burden¡± universities had been given to tackle non-violent extremism under 바카라사이트 recent Counter-Terrorism and Security Act was a ¡°problem¡±.

ellie.bothwell@tesglobal.com