After finalising our respective modules, we presented them on Thursday 21 July to Mr. Eric Poinsot, responsible for the prevention of radicalisation and violent extremism for the city and the Eurometropole of Strasbourg.

The project partners of the RADEX project were present: Ioanna Athinodorou for Synthesis ; Aikaterini Kalafati Michailaki for RJ4All ; and Giulia Sostero (with her trainees : Pierre-Henri and Sélim) for ALDA.

        How did the meeting go? First, Aikaterini (for RJ4All), project coordinator of the RADEX project, presented her module, explaining precisely the notions mobilised in it, namely the Digital resilience, the Positive approach and the Good Lives model. Then, Giulia (for ALDA) accompanied by her two trainees, presented their module which dealt more specifically with Positive Political Participation. Finally, Ioanna (for Synthesis) closed the presentations, presenting her own module, which was about understanding radicalisation, from theory to practice including real life case studies.
Mr. Poinsot then had the chance to give his feedback and added remarks.

        What does Mr.Poinsot think of the modules? Mr. Poinsot appreciated our modules, after having had a comprehensive overview of our approach. Indeed, he provided us with valuable feedback and some advice, such as a reflection on the difference between resilience and resistance. He concluded the meeting by presenting his work, explaining that he is in charge of preventing violent radicalisation in the city of Strasbourg, that it is difficult in its function to act at the local and municipal level, and that interventions should necessarily be coordinated at the municipal level. Mr.Poinsot gave details of the national context (in France) in order to understand the specific position of Strasbourg approaches on radicalisation.

He explained that policies in the field of Preventing / Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVE) in France is a young public policy, the first national plan was adopted in 2014 (which is quite late, according to him, compared to countries like the UK). Secondly,P/CVE in France is very centralized under the authority of State agencies (both nationally and locally). Local authorities have a more marginal role to play than other countries such as Denmark or Belgium. Thirdly, P/CVE tends to be quite securitised in France: security is very central to P/CVE approaches. Finally, according to Mr. Poinsot, in France policies about Preventing / Countering Violent Extremism are centered on one type of radicalisation, which is jihadist radicalisation (jihadism). It’s been so since 2014, and still largely the case, whereas in other countries they try to address all sorts of radicalisations (especially right-wing radicalisation).

        What is the next step? The organisation of the local events in each of the partner countries! 

The future online course of RADEX project will soon be functional and operational, and can be used independently and partially, depending on the needs and availability of the users, so keep following us not to miss any information.