Efforts to solve the problem of violent extremism often rely on inadequate strategies that can fuel further extremism. To address such inadequacies, the EU-funded PAVE project aims to advance evidence-based knowledge on violent extremism in the Middle East, North Africa and the Western Balkans. To achieve this, the project will analyse the drivers and contexts of violent extremism, focusing on factors of community vulnerability to ideological and behavioural patterns of radicalisation. It will also assess the relevance and effectiveness of preventive initiatives against violent extremism, such as measures to enhance community resilience. The project will provide insight into the prevention of violent extremism between the European Union and its neighbours.

A particular focus will be laid on the assessment of existing preventive initiatives and measures to enhance community resilience in the following four thematic areas:

• The interface between religious, political and ethnic/sectarian extremisms
• The interaction between religious and state institutions
• On- and offline narratives and (de-)radicalisation
• Transnational interactions, including impact on and from Europe

Within the three-year project lifetime, the interdisciplinary research team will develop innovative training tools and guidelines to support agents of community resilience (including religious leaders, mayors, educators, civil society organisations, women and youth), and will support mutual learning on best practices engaging stakeholders, community leaders, policy-makers and the wider public in the EU, MENA and Western Balkans.