INTERNATIONAL POLICIES IN COUNTERING EXTREMISM: FRAMEWORKS, MECHANISMS, AND CHALLENGES

Abstract

This study deals with the topic of international policies in combating extremism, as one of the most prominent contemporary issues facing the international community, as the phenomenon of extremism represents a direct threat to international peace and security. The study aims to analyze the nature of these policies, review their theoretical frameworks and various mechanisms, assess their effectiveness in confronting extremism, and highlight the most important challenges that hinder their implementation at the practical level. The study relied on a descriptive-analytical approach, through the analysis of international documents and reports issued by international organizations, in addition to the use of relevant academic studies. The comparative approach was also employed when necessary, with the aim of highlighting the differences in international approaches to countering extremism. The study concluded that international policies in countering extremism have witnessed remarkable development, especially in terms of adopting a comprehensive approach that combines security, intellectual, social and preventive dimensions. However, these policies still suffer from a number of challenges, most notably the lack of a unified international definition of the concept of extremism, the dominance of the security dimension in practical application, the weakness of international binding mechanisms, as well as problems  related to human rights and the politicization of the concept of countering extremism.