Processes of distancing regarding the phenomenon of Islamist-based extremism from the perspective of advice practitioners (EPA-islEX) , Date: 2022.12.01, format: project (finished), area: Authority

This content is also available in

"Developing a participatory procedure and data model for knowledge transfer on development processes on the phenomenon of Islamist-based extremism from the perspective of advice practitioners" (EPA-islEx) is a joint project implemented by the Centre for Technology and Society at the Technical University of Berlin and the Research Centre of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF). The purpose of the project is to enable advisors' case knowledge to be put to practical use with added value in accordance with professional and data protection standards, but also for the advisors. The research project was carried out in the period from 1 March 2021 to 31 October 2022 and promoted by the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community with funds provided by the National Prevention Programme against Islamist Extremism (BMI).

Processes of distancing from Islamist-based extremism are complex and individual. In addition to the person distancing themselves, advisors or security authorities also have their own understanding of distancing which goes hand in hand with their own priorities.

The EPA-islEX project aims to develop a practice-orientated survey tool to systematically collect and present empirical knowledge from practitioners in order to describe processes of distancing.

Three individual sub-goals were pursued:

  1. develop a model of distancing from the perspective of advisors
  2. operationalise the model for a standardised survey tool
  3. clarify the legal framework for collecting data on clients' developmental processes, and develop a data protection concept

This project takes into account advice practitioners' interests in terms of knowledge, and the emphasis that they place, and is designed to be participatory.

Group interviews were conducted in the first empirical phase to find out how advisors from advisory centres nationwide understand processes of distancing, and which factors and characteristics they consider relevant in this context. A model of processes of distancing from the advisors' perspective was developed as an interim goal. This model was reflected back to the participants in a second empirical phase. Based on the model and on feedback from the advisors, the next step was to develop a survey tool together with data protection experts to systematically and anonymously record and present processes of distancing.