Violent extremism can reflect any number of fragile state-society relationships, from perceptions of social exclusion and marginalization to political grievances, polarization and a lack of political accountability and social trust. But engaging in violent extremism is still an individual choice. And while there is no psychological pathology associated with violent extremists, behavioral challenges such as trauma often play a role in why individuals choose violence — as does the influence of those closest to them. Preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE) therefore requires a multidisciplinary strategy that addresses of the dynamics that contribute to it within individuals, communities and political and economic structures.

Please note that this event requires registration no later than 12:00pm EDT on Tuesday, June 28. Registered attendees will receive an email on Tuesday at 3:00pm EDT with instructions to access the livestream. The event will not be streamed on this page.

Voters pass a peace message on their way to a polling station in downtown Nairobi, Kenya. (Pete Muller/The New York Times)
Voters pass a peace message on their way to a polling station in downtown Nairobi, Kenya. (Pete Muller/The New York Times)

Mercy Corps’ Collective Resilience Against Extremism (CREATE) program — operating in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda — seeks to prevent violent extremism through piloting innovative approaches for building resilience among high-risk individuals while facilitating effective prevention approaches among civil society and government actors. An evaluation of its first cohort of participants in Kenya reveals promising results, including a 22 percent reduction in support for violence. These individual-oriented activities sit within a broader program strategy of influencing national and local policy and tackling the systemic drivers of violent extremism in the region.

Continue the conversation on Twitter using #PreventExtremism

Speakers

Megan Corrado
Director of Policy and Advocacy, Alliance for Peacebuilding

Sarah Gibbons
Team Lead, CREATE Program, Mercy Corps

Ubah Hassan Abdi
Deputy Team Lead, CREATE Program, Mercy Corps

Lisa Inks 
Senior Specialist for Peace and Governance, Mercy Corps 

Chris Bosley, moderator
Interim Director, Program on Violent Extremism, U.S. Institute of Peace

Related Publications

How Nelson Mandela’s Legacy Still Resonates for Youth Movements

How Nelson Mandela’s Legacy Still Resonates for Youth Movements

Wednesday, November 22, 2023

By: Miranda Rivers

As December marks 10 years since the passing of Nelson Mandela, an icon of 20th-century struggles for justice and peace, a new generation of activists is building from his legacy to counter our 21st-entury crises of rising global violence. Among the signs of Mandela’s vital relevance for us now is a global, online conference to bolster nonviolent social action in pursuit of justice and peace that opens December 7, hosted by the Stanford University-based World House Project with partner groups from South Africa, India, Mexico and elsewhere.

Type: Analysis

Nonviolent Action

USIP’s Mandela Series

USIP’s Mandela Series

Friday, November 3, 2023

By: Ambassador Johnnie Carson

After spending 27 years in prison, many expected Nelson Mandela to emerge as a man full of bitterness and anger toward those who had imprisoned him. Instead, he emerged as a towering figure of peace and justice whose own self-sacrifice and leadership were instrumental in ending the brutal apartheid system in South Africa. USIP’s Ambassador Johnnie Carson discusses the Institute’s new Mandela Series — a collection of lectures and seminars from notable peacebuilders that celebrates Mandela’s life and explores how his legacy can guide those seeking a better, more peaceful future.

Type: Blog

Nonviolent ActionPeace Processes

Overcoming the Challenges of Transitional Mobilization

Overcoming the Challenges of Transitional Mobilization

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

By: Suha Hassen;  Jonathan Pinckney

Nonviolent action can be a powerful way to bring about peaceful transitions from autocratic rule to democracy. But even when initially successful, movement leaders often face significant challenges, from frustrations that grievances are not addressed quickly enough to counterrevolutions aimed at restoring the authoritarian status quo. This report examines two recent transitions—the 2011 Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia and Armenia’s 2018 Velvet Revolution—and presents recommendations for improving the likelihood that change initiated through nonviolent action leads to robust and lasting democracy.

Type: Peaceworks

Nonviolent Action

The Latest @ USIP: Russia’s Indigenous People Protest the War in Ukraine

The Latest @ USIP: Russia’s Indigenous People Protest the War in Ukraine

Wednesday, April 26, 2023

By: Vera Solovyeva

Despite U.N. protections for Indigenous people, Russian law does not offer recognition to many of its Indigenous communities — making it difficult for them to assert and protect their rights. Vera Solovyeva, a researcher at George Mason University, discusses the various challenges facing Indigenous peoples in Russia, why Indigenous women and mothers are protesting Russia’s war in Ukraine, and what she believes is the path toward peace.

Type: Blog

Human RightsNonviolent Action

View All Publications