ZiVI

Radicalisation, extremism, Islamism, prevention, intervention, advice centres, systematic evaluation

Prof. Dr Anne Karow (Project Manager), Clinic and Polyclinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy and Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf

Dr Dr Isgard Ohls (Project Manager), Clinic and Polyclinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf

01.01.2020-31.12.2022

Professionals in counselling centres run by civil society organisations make a major contribution to the intervention and prevention of Islamist extremism throughout Germany, together with a large number of government agencies from various departments. The counsellors are confronted with extremely complex and difficult tasks in connection with radicalisation processes and their often challenging progression and must keep an eye on multiple problem situations and contextual factors. In doing so, counsellors must also consider potentially dangerous situations that may arise in connection with violent extremist crimes or through the influence of extremist groups.

Until now, however, there has been a lack of an instrument for structured case recording and presentation that can provide professionals with reference points for counselling approaches and for a review of case work, regardless of the objective and orientation of the counselling centre.

The aim of the project was therefore to work with experts from civil society and state counselling centres and the state coordination centres of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees' (BAMF) "Radicalisation" counselling centre network to develop a tool that can be used to record relevant factors in the counselling of (suspected) radicalised individuals, their relatives or social environment. "ZiVI-Extremism" takes into account three different levels of casework: intervention planning, progress assessment and the assessment of a risk situation.

As a result of the three-year cooperation project, the completed tool, including a manual and an assessment and evaluation form for case work, has been available since 31 December 2022. The "Target achievement and progress assessment tool for assessing the need for action and intervention in cases of Islamist-based radicalisation" ("ZiVI-Extremism") is intended to support professionals in structuring the counselling process, planning intervention measures, evaluating the course of counselling and providing certainty when assessing possible situations of self-endangerment and danger to others. It is intended exclusively for use in specialist counselling centres of the BAMF's "Radicalisation" counselling centre network.

Click here for the tool:

https://www.bamf.de/SharedDocs/Anlagen/DE/Behoerde/Beratungsstelle/broschuere-zivi-extremismus.pdf;jsessionid=32233C575EB3A985E486FAC7086A9E95.intranet242?__blob=publicationFile&v=2

Further publications

Rau, T., Eberl, K., Kiesler, L., Hosseini, D., Allroggen, M., & Ohls, I. (2022, 1 June). How "ZiVI-Extremism" can support deradicalisation counselling centres. A tool for structured counselling, documentation of cases and assessment of dangerous situations. Federal Agency for Civic Education. https://www.bpb.de/themen/infodienst/508516/wie-zivi-extremismus-beratungsstellen-fuer-deradikalisierung-unterstuetzen-kann/

Rau, T., Heimgartner, A., Eberl, K., & Allroggen, A. (2021). Distancing and deradicalisation work with Islamist extremism: Structures and modes of operation in Germany. Forum Crime Prevention, 3, 31-35.

Rau, T., Heimgartner, A. & Allroggen, M. (2021). Risk and protective factors in the context of radicalisation and extremist violence. Topic overview and implications for science and practice. Practice of legal psychology, 31(1), 5-27.