Anti-extremism efforts must include promoting active citizenship, inclusive development — former PM

AMMAN — The international community is “clearly struggling” to address radicalisation, Senator Samir Rifai said on Tuesday.

Addressing a workshop, dubbed “Human Factors in the Defence against Terrorism:  The Case of Jordan”, organised by the Atlantic Treaty Association at the Dead Sea, the former prime minister explained that there are many levels and layers to this challenge.

Such levels require having enhanced tactical coordination between agencies and between governments on known risks, and a deeper insight into the driver of radicalisation and profiling of at-risk communities and individuals, he added.

“War, terrorism and low oil prices have conspired to drive human capital, financial capital and growth out of the region’s economies, even amongst the most affluent of countries,” Rifai said, according to a copy of his remarks.

Syria, Iraq, Libya and Yemen are “deep in conflict”, he said, adding that Lebanon has formed its first government in two years and austerity measures are taking their toll elsewhere in the region.

In Jordan, security services have managed thousands of protests through the Arab Spring period with no loss of life or serious conflict between security services and citizens, the senator added.

“Not surprisingly, Arabs across the region and of all generations feel frustrated, afraid and angry about the lack of advancement in their quality of life and the outlook for the quality of life for their children,” Rifai noted.

The proliferation of smartphones and social media technologies has given new voice and “a dangerous, viral currency” to the frustration of young people, with Internet penetration rates in the Arab world now around 57 per cent, up from 7 per cent a decade ago, he added.

“Large swathes of the Arab world have migrated quickly from what might be described as ‘suffering in silence’ to ‘venting with vengeance’,” Rifai warned

“Taking conflict off the battlefield; restoring confidence in public leaders; and encouraging active citizenship in the redesign of a sustainable social contract and an inclusive model of development must be key components to the broader effort to counter radicalisation,” he advised.