PrEval Studie 7/2025
The Interaction Between the Prevention of Extremism and Citizenship Education in Practice: An International Comparative Study Assessing the Interprofessional Cooperation Between Professionals from the Prevention Field and the Educational Field
Myrte van Veldhuizen & Hermann Josef Abs (University Duisburg-Essen)
How can civic and citizenship education and the prevention of radicalisation and extremism work together successfully? In this comparative study, PrEval partners at the University of Duisburg-Essen analyse international discourses and practices in England and Norway.
The findings show that civic and citizenship education can strengthen young people’s resilience through democracy education, values education and the promotion of belonging – and thus make an important contribution to the primary prevention of radicalisation. At the same time, the study highlights a lack of systematic structures for cooperation between educational approaches and prevention practices.
For the German context, the authors ecommend a more differentiated integration of existing discourses, stronger cooperation between the fields and the development of new pilot projects – with the aim of increasing effectiveness and trust.
About the Authors
Myrte van Veldhuizen, Dr., is a post-doctoral researcher in the chair of Educational Research and Schooling at the University of Duisburg-Essen. Her current research focuses on the relation between the fields of citizenship education and the prevention of radicalization and extremism internationally. Previously, she has worked on international comparative research projects on mentoring for beginning teachers at disadvantaged schools and persistent absence from school.
Hermann J. Abs, Prof. Dr., Chair of Educational Research and Schooling at the University of Duisburg-Essen. Together with his team, he implements national and international projects on monitoring citizenship education and evaluating the effectiveness of school education as well as out of school projects in the area of civic participation and preventing radicalisation. He is part of the preparation team for the International Civic and Citizenship Education Study (ICCS 2027).
