– Research-driven analysis and opinion –
A joint initiative by the GREASE and BRaVE projects, Global Extremes critically examines religiously inspired violent radicalisation, far-right extremism, and polarisation.
Hosted by OpenDemocracy, Global Extremes aims to help build more resilient communities and societies through constructive debate, analysis and discussion. It offers research-driven, in-depth analysis on compelling contemporary issues.
Blog articles from GREASE consortium partners are featured below.
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Articles by GREASE consortium members
07 December 2021
How COVID-19 has changed the violent extremist landscape
The rise of pandemic-inspired conspiracists has been escalated and capitalised on by extremist movements
Michele Grossman
09 November 2021
Secularism defined: a tale of two courts
It is the responsibility of the secular state to guarantee both the freedom of belief and the limits that might rightfully be placed on this freedom, writes
Haldun Gülalp
01 October 2021
Good religion or bad religion? Secularism and the Afghan question
Empowering religious groups to become political actors does not constitute freedom of religion for all and violates the norms of secularism, whether exercised at home or abroad, argues
Haldun Gülalp
26 July 2021
The enduring appeal of Sayyid Qutb’s jihadist ideology
Sayyid Qutb’s ‘Milestones’, published in 1964, has been the ideological force behind a succession of violent Islamist groups.
Georges Fahmi
24 May 2021
Freedom of religion or freedom for religion?
Why critiques of secularism, especially in France, fundamentally misunderstand the principles of equality and human rights on which it is based.
Haldun Gülalp
26 April 2021
Can worsening economies and increasing repression herald a new Arab Spring?
North Africa today is reminiscent of the period leading up to the 2011 uprisings. Tensions are further aggravated by the pandemic damage.
Mehdi Lahlou
29 March 2021
Why do churches have mixed attitudes towards the Arab Spring?
Christian leaders in Egypt and Syria opposed the 2011 uprising but now their counterparts in Iraq and Lebanon back reform to protect their flocks.
Georges Fahmi
21 December 2020
Is religious fervor compatible with democracy?
If one believes that democracy is an abomination and against God’s rule, one may not even ponder it.
Haldun Gülalp
23 November 2020
What can multiculturalism offer in the fight against racism in Britain?
Claims about the failure of multiculturalism are persistent yet, they are also consistently inaccurate.
Thomas Sealy
16 November 2020
What does Samuel Paty’s tragic murder teach us?
Building a strong sense of security, acceptance and respect in society is how we fight both Islamophobia and jihadist terrorism.
Anna Triandafyllidou
13 November 2020
Can social networking platforms prevent polarisation and violent extremism?
Our capacity to design social media platforms to prevent polarisation and violent extremism online is contingent upon what we do offline.
Vivian Gerrand
9 November 2020
Community reporting of terrorist involvement during COVID-19
Encouraging community members to share information about someone they’re close to becoming involved in terrorism remains a key challenge of counter terrorism.
Paul Thomas and Michele Grossman
2 November 2020
How can religiously inspired ideas explain violent extremism in Egypt?
What role do religiously inspired ideas play in shaping the current wave of violent extremism in Egypt?
Georges Fahmi
30 October 2020
Europe must open up to new ideas about the secular state
With the recent fallout between France and some Muslim nations, this is a reminder to open up to alternative solutions.
Anna Triandafyllidou and Gurpreet Mahajan
26 October 2020
France: La République is at war with itself
To counter violent extremism in France, we need to go beyond the rhetoric of heroes and dehumanized enemies.
Tina Magazzini
19 October 2020
Russia’s imaginary ‘radicals’
While many countries face a real problem of violent radicalization, others use the imaginary threat of it to construct their domestic and foreign politics.
Marat Iliyasov
21 July 2020
Back to the future of multi-ethnic Britain
The route towards an anti-racist, inclusive Britain exists, but who is willing to take it?
Thomas Sealy
6 May 2020
Is there a difference between a niqab and a face mask?
The prevalence of face masks to fight the COVID-19 pandemic might help spark a more constructive conversation on the niqab.
Thomas Sealy
21 April 2020
What is the fate of religion in Europe?
Can Europe’s traditional norms of secularism be applied to an extra-Christian religious diversity that the continent has not known before?
Tina Magazzini, Tariq Modood, Anna Triandafyllidou, Thomas Sealy
6 April 2020
Coping with crisis: How much “resilience” is on display?
Covid-19 shows the idea people triumph alone over adversity is a myth – it takes the support and resources of a society.
Michele Grossman
2 April 2020
Resilience, radicalisation and democracy in the COVID-19 Pandemic
With lockdowns, an already alarming situation of vulnerability to political manipulation is at risk of becoming a disaster for democracy.
Vivian Gerrand
4 March 2020
Is Al-Azhar pushing the envelope?
Shaykh al-Azhar, Ahmed al-Tayyib criticised the state of Arabs and Muslims worldwide – including, one presumes, its rulers.
H.A. Hellyer
24 February 2020
Is central Europe afraid of religious tolerance?
In the middle of Europe, there is a new sort of religious radicalization emerging – that of religion-haters or religiophobes.
Egdūnas Račius
3 February 2020
What is the ‘proper’ place of religion?
The reality of multiculturalism in Western Europe has reawakened debates around religion’s relation to politics and place in society and the public sphere.
Thomas Sealy
3 February 2020
Rethinking secularism: Can Europe integrate its Muslims?
A new understanding of secularism represents Europe’s best chance for finding a way forward.
Tariq Modood
3 February 2020
In India: secularism or multiculturalism?
What can we make of the ‘return’ of secularism to the centre of political debate in India?
Gurpreet Mahajan
3 February 2020
The perils of mixing religion and politics: the case of Turkey
Mixing religion with politics does not even serve religious purposes.
Haldun Gülalp
17 December 2019
Islamophobia is Boris Johnson’s problem now
Labour Party’s abject failure to address anti-Semitism has garnered headlines, but hatred of Muslims is even more rampant in Britain—and the prime minister and his party have contributed to making it socially acceptable.
H.A. Hellyer
19 November 2019
In defense of secularism
Polarization based on a politics of religious identity seems to be the most dangerous for democracies.
Haldun Gülalp
27 October 2019
Why words matter: mainstreaming anti-Muslim discourse
It is no surprise that right wing extremists use similar language, it is however alarming that this language is found in the mainstream media.
H.A. Hellyer
27 October 2019
The answer to extremist violence is strong resilient communities
We do not need to keep minorities under surveillance or to create a climate of mistrust and prejudice.
Anna Triandafyllidou
27 October 2019
Terrorism not in my name
How should one respond to terrorism carried out in one’s name?
Tariq Modood
27 October 2019
How to build resilience to violent extremism
Given the terrible injustices endured by so many, why aren’t more turning to terrorism?
Vivian Gerrand
27 October 2019
To face the rise of extremism we need words as much as actions
Religious and political responses to the Christchurch attack can tell us a great deal.
Thomas Sealy