Annex 1 TERMS OF REFERENCE

Transcription

1 Annex 1 TERMS OF REFERENCE 1. INTRODUCTION Identifying and addressing the factors contributing to violent radicalisation 1 have become very important issues in the fight against terrorism. The most important documents adopted by EU Institutions - as, for instance, the Declarations following the Madrid 2 and London 3 attacks, the Plan of Action on Combating Terrorism adopted in June 2004 and revised every six months, the Commission s Communication on prevention, preparedness and response to terrorist attacks 4 and The Hague Programme adopted by the European Council in November have all referred to the need to identify and address the factors and causes that are contributing to making people take the path of violence and terror. In its Communication on Terrorist recruitment: addressing the factors contributing to violent radicalisation 5, the Commission identified various existing EU policies that could play an important role in addressing the problem. This Communication was merely an initial contribution to the development of an EU Strategy and Action Plan on Radicalisation and Recruitment which was adopted by the Council of Ministers in December The Strategy reflects the Commission s approach in highlighting the need to develop our understanding of the problem and recognises the role of the Commission in delivering the strategy through channelling its policies effectively, including through the investment of funds for research. Aware of the enormous complexity of the subject, the Commission had acknowledged in its Communication that far more in-depth research and analysis is required. (It also supplied its own preliminary analysis in an Annex to the Communication). With regard to research funding, the Communication stated as follows: The Commission will also launch a public tender for studies in this area that will include motivational and desisting factors for violent radicalisation and socio-economic factors contributing to violent radicalisation. 1 The term violent radicalisation is defined in the Commission Communication Terrorist recruitment: addressing the factors contributing to violent radicalisation COM (2005) 313 final adopted on 21 st September 2005, as the phenomenon of people embracing opinions, views and ideas which could lead to acts of terrorism as defined in Article 1 of the Framework Decision on Combating Terrorism. 2 European Council Declaration on Combating Terrorism of the 25 th March Council Declaration on the EU Response to the London Bombings of the 13 th July COM (2004) 698 final adopted on 20 th October COM (2005) 313 final adopted on 21 st September 2005.

2 In addition to policy advice that the Commission will be receiving from a European expert group on violent radicalisation, soon to be set up, the Commission will use the studies for more efficient and better-targeted policy-making. The studies, which must be based on extensive field work and collection of new empirical data, will also help the Commission to confirm, adapt or reject commonly held assumptions in the field. They will also provide the necessary academic and empirical support to its policies. 2. SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES The Commission will contract three studies in the field of violent radicalisation. The financing of studies in this area has various objectives. There is the general objective to stimulate more extensive multi-disciplinary research in the field and more collaborative work between research institutions in Europe that produces comparative research of good quality. The Commission is therefore giving a strong signal to academic researchers in the field that their work and collaboration with each other is essential for the EU to craft considered policies in the field. The objective for the Commission is to invest in three studies that respond to specific criteria. Such studies will guide and support its policy-making. As recognised by the Commission s Communication Terrorist recruitment: addressing the factors contributing to violent radicalisation, although Europe has experienced different types of terrorism in its history, the main threat currently comes from terrorism that is underlined by an abusive interpretation of Islam. The studies must therefore mainly address violent radicalisation that leads to that type of terrorism although, clearly, comparative analysis with radicalisation processes leading to other types of terrorism would be highly valuable and therefore very much encouraged. The main emphasis of the studies is to identify motivational, desisting and socio-economic factors for violent radicalisation. The studies must be innovative in terms of both methodology and content and must bring an added value to the European Union as a whole. Hence, comparative studies spanning a minimum of three Member States will be given preference. The Commission believes there is a very strong need for specific case studies i.e studies that investigate particular and individual radicalisation processes of specific persons, irrespective of whether, or at what stage, that process was interrupted or eventually led to the making of a terrorist. Studies with this approach will also be given preference. The Commission will select studies in accordance with the provisions of this call for tenders on the following subjects: LOT 1: The factors that may possibly trigger or affect violent radicalisation processes, particularly among youth Background The reasons for becoming involved in groups which use terrorism against others as a way of expressing their ideas may be many and are often very complex. For instance, focusing on fighting under a common political, religious, national or ethnic banner may enable people to

3 find affiliations with groups, and with these groups, carrying out acts of violence can become part of partaking in a cause. Other reasons can be found in the misinterpretation of writings or ideologies, or gaps between what one reads or has been told and the reality of one s contemporary social context. From a psycho-social perspective, feelings of discrimination (whether real or perceived), social exclusion, humiliation and trauma, the rejection of the values of the society one lives in, alienation and low self-esteem may make one more prone to the powerful ideals and purpose-driven motivations of certain groups or movements. The desire to engage with a particular locus of identity that represents one s opinions can be a powerful motivating force. Furthermore, the very young age of some of the perpetrators of terrorist attacks has caused a degree of concern and alarm and has raised some important questions with regard to how policies targeted at the educational and cultural development of our youth can be channelled more effectively to prevent some of the radicalisation processes and address the external influences of a violently radical nature to which they may succumb. Therefore, understanding better the onset and/or development of violently radical mind-sets in young people (starting from early teenage life) in their most formative years and at an age where they are most prone to fall prey to violently radical ideas would help the EU and the Member States target policies towards youth better. Task The study must treat this subject in the most comprehensive manner possible, through field work, case studies and collection of empirical data. It must delve into the psycho-social and socio-economic motivations that may be linked to violent radicalisation as, for instance, humiliation and trauma, social exclusion, alienation, disillusionment, discrimination and injustice (perceived or real). Concentrating on only a few of such motivations might be useful if covering too wide a range of motivations may affect the depth of the analysis. The study must also consider the effect that Islamophobia might have on violent radicalisation. In this regard, however, contractors must take into account the work done or in preparation by the European Union Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia in order to avoid any duplication. Factors that trigger the reversal or interruption of radicalisation processes must be part of the analysis. Specifically with regard to youth, the study must seek to identify and analyse the earliest manifestations of violently radical behaviour (or behaviour that has the potential to become so) as well as explore and analyse any possible links between school drop-outs, unemployment and radicalisation processes. It must also tackle how, if at all, juvenile and organised crime links to the radicalisation of youth and the links between the various external influences (eg peer pressure, cult-like movements, media, charismatic leaders, artistic expression, specific environments) that push youth to cling to powerful subversive ideologies that preach violence of whatever form. Relevant gender differences in the effects that external influences have on radicalisation processes would also be an interesting aspect of the study. Analysis of youth exhibiting violently radical tendencies who however, for a variety of reasons renounced to terrorism, understanding how the reversal and/or interruption of a radicalisation process (eg through the effect of opposition to radical thinking) occurs and identifying distinguishing features between violently radical youth and the merely radical are also crucial to our future policy-making and should therefore be part of the study.

4 Contractors are allowed to go beyond the above task description provided it does not affect the depth of the analysis suggested. LOT 2: The beliefs, ideologies and narrative of violent radicals Background: Fighting terrorism, in all its forms and irrespective of the aims or ideals it purports to advance, is also an ideological struggle because terrorism has the potential to subvert the very founding principles of the European Union like those of tolerance, diversity, democracy, human rights protection and the rule of law. This type of fight however requires that we understand better the beliefs and ideologies that terrorists and those who support them harbour, disseminate and through which they justify the use of violence and hatred. The issue however is complex and in-depth analysis is needed. Task The study must treat this subject in the most comprehensive manner possible, through field work, case studies and collection of empirical data. It must analyse the narrative of violent radicals and of those who show sympathy or support to their cause. The main focus of the study must be on the narrative employed by those who justify the use of terrorism and who invoke an abusive interpretation of Islam. A comparative analysis with the narrative underlying other types of terrorism would however also be extremely valuable and is therefore encouraged. The study must analyse the content and imagery of terrorist rhetoric and propaganda, hate speech, conspiracy theories, the interpretations of EU policies and those of Member States and of the EU s international partners etc. in all the different formats such narrative takes. Of particular interest would be to conduct a very thorough analysis of the narrative and imagery that is found on the internet and other very influential media like satellite television, extremist literature and videos. The above analysis must however be linked to the radicalisation process through case-studies and field work. It must in other words also analyse how people, in different stages of the radicalisation process, embrace these ideas and make them their own (i.e self-radicalisation). Furthermore, the study must specifically tackle the cult of martyrdom from a psychological/socio-religious perspective and investigate its links to radicalisation processes and patterns. Contractors are allowed to go beyond the above task description provided it does not affect the depth of the analysis suggested. LOT 3: The methods through which violent radicals mobilise support for terrorism and find new recruits

5 Background Although it is true that nowadays it is easy for individuals to become radicalised without anyone s help, given the abundant material that is available, there are still many ways by which violent radicals may attempt to influence the radicalisation process of others. It would therefore be extremely useful to understand better the methods, tactics and techniques - with all their subtleties - used to mobilise sympathy and support for terrorism or to transform radicalised individuals into terrorists. Task The study must treat this subject in the most comprehensive manner possible, through field work, case studies and collection of empirical data. It must look in depth into the recruitment mechanisms used by violent radicals in Europe like, for instance, indoctrination tactics, and their effectiveness and flaws must be empirically measured. The several different environments (e.g prisons) within which such recruitment may take place or which make it more conducive for radicals to spread their message and recruit must be analysed in detail through, among other things, field work and case studies. It must analyse how terrorism rhetoric and propaganda is used by recruiters and how expertise needed to commit terrorist attacks is spread by violent radicals. In this light the important role of gateway organisations and cliques as well as the role that charismatic leaders may have in radicalising people must be treated. Any comparative analysis that explores similarities with recruitment into other types of movements as, for instance, sects or cults, should be considered too. Furthermore the influence that experienced terrorists going to and returning from conflict zones has on recruitment and radicalisation processes would also merit analysis. The tactical use of the media and in particular the internet as a tool deployed by radicals to mobilise support and recruit must be studied and its effectiveness must be empirically measured. The study must analyse other sources that are used to mobilise support and justify the use of violence like extremist literature and videos and the means by which they are spread. Contractors are allowed to go beyond the above task description provided it does not affect the depth of the analysis suggested. The tenderers may apply for one or more of the three lots of the tender. 3. METHODOLOGY, ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSIONS The Commission s Communication on Terrorist recruitment: addressing the factors contributing to violent radicalisation is indicative of the Commission s perception of the problem and should be taken into account when contractors tender for the studies. The contractors must conduct empirical studies, field work and case studies and be able to extract or construct theories on radicalisation processes or patterns or any part/s thereof. Reference may be made to existing research carried out by academics or by the law enforcement and intelligence community but the studies must be new and based on newly collected empirical evidence that truly reflect the current trends in radicalisation processes. Research on the ground must be carried out as close as possible to risk people, that is

6 ranging from those who demonstrate mere sympathy for terrorism to highly radicalised people. It must also, as far as possible, involve people that decided to renounce to terrorism at some juncture in the process or who, though radicalised, never became terrorists. After all, understanding the causes that lead persons to renounce terrorism or that prevent radicalised people from becoming terrorists are of equally crucial importance to our policy-making. The contractors should concentrate more on those themes that are heavily under-researched. This will help the Commission to address aspects of fighting violent radicalisation that are currently not, or insufficiently, covered. Furthermore, studies that have already been made for the Commission in related fields or which the Commission is expecting, in particular those made or being prepared by the European Union Monitoring Centre for Racism and Xenophobia 6, must be taken into due account in order to avoid duplication The studies must contain a detailed exposé of the methodology to be used for collecting the data and the reasons for selecting that methodology. They must also explain why the data collected leads to the particular theoretical interpretations and conclusions made by the contractor. At the same time, the studies should highlight any deficiencies in the evidence and the findings and, where necessary, the difficulties of drawing certain conclusions or the potential flaws that any conclusions might contain. At the end of the study, the contractor must make concrete proposals or recommendations which the European Union or the Member States could implement in a practical manner. Where necessary, the studies should also indicate any urgent empirical data that is lacking and that needs to be collected in the field of study or one related to it. 4. REPORTS AND DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED The contractor shall be required to submit the following reports: An inception report within two weeks of the date of signature of the contract, to detail the proposed approach including: envisaged information collection activities, type of field-work and case studies, geographical scope of information gathering, key informants and stakeholders, analytical tools, and other methodological considerations. The inception report must include a clear work programme with estimated timelines. The inception report will be discussed with the European Commission within one week from date of receipt. The inception report will be deemed to have been accepted by the Commission if the Commission does not expressly inform the contractor of any comments within this timeframe. Within one week of receiving any comments on the inception report, the contractor will send the Commission a revised version, which will either take account of the comments or put forward alternative points of view. 6

7 An Interim report Six months after the start of the contract (5 copies) will have to be submitted to the Commission. This document will describe the work done and the results achieved to date. The report should provide preliminary conclusions related to the scope of the study and should include the structure for the final report, and an updated work-plan (based on the experience of the first 6 months) ensuring the submission of the final report within the contractual deadline. Within 15 days of receiving the draft interim report, the Commission will inform the Contractor of its acceptance or of any comments or requests for supplementary work. The Contractor will submit new documents within one month of receiving the Commission's comments. A draft final report within ten months of the date of signature of the contract. The contractor shall comply with any request by the Commission to attend a final assessment meeting at the European Commission within one week of the submission of the draft final report. The draft final report will be deemed to have been accepted by the Commission if the Commission does not expressly inform the contractor of any comments within 45 days of its receipt. Within 30 days of receiving any comments on the draft final report, the contractor will send the Commission the final report, which will either take account of the comments or put forward alternative points of view. The final report will thus be submitted at the latest within 12 months of the date of signature of the contract. The draft final report and final report shall be in English or French and shall be provided in four paper copies and an electronic copy. 5. MEETINGS WITH THE COMMISSION The contractor may be requested, and should be prepared, to attend a kick-off meeting at the Commission s premises in Brussels. Two additional meetings in Brussels should be foreseen for the discussion of both the draft interim report and the draft final report.