Authors

Discussion

Civil society is integral in maintaining long-term prevention, disengagement and deradicalisation. Literature on disengagement and deradicalisation emphasises the necessity of personal relationships and community involvement in long-term success (Dalgaard-Nielson, 2013; Ebaugh, 1988; Rabasa et al., 2010; Windisch et al., 2016). Social Identity Theory explains how an individual’s sense of self is defined based on group membership(s) (Tajfel and Turner, 1986). Group members will seek to find negative characteristics about ‘other’ groups to bolster their own group’s self-image, which inevitably leads to the discrimination of ‘other’ groups. This theory applies to radicalisation in the galvanisation of self-identity and the fear of an outside ‘other’ as a platform for mobilising individuals, communities, countries, and even global regions. The importance of group membership has been proven in the prevention and deradicalisation programming for Salafist extremism in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Can the culturally contextual and effective methods against religious radicalisation transfer to right-wing ethnonationalism prevention and deradicalisation programming in Bosnia?

This paper employs an interpretive framework and draws on key aspects of political anthropology and political ethnography. Firstly, it outlines the essential elements of Bosnian counter-radicalisation programmes, emphasising community-based civil society solutions that incorporate critical thinking skills and intergroup dialogue. Second, content on religious extremism will be compared to the literature on ethnonationalist radicalisation and an assessment of current Bosnian programming. Finally, conclusions will be drawn on what effective methods from prevention and deradicalisation programming for religious radicalisation can combat right-wing ethnonationalism in Bosnia.