TRENDS Research & Advisory, through its office in Belgium, participated in a panel discussion at the European Parliament in Brussels on extremism and radicalization in the education sector.
Researchers Najla Al-Midfa and Al-Jneibi represented TRENDS at the panel discussion, which was organized by the International Movement for Peace and Coexistence (IMPAC) in collaboration with the office of MEP Antonio López-Istúriz White. The discussion aimed to explore more effective approaches to addressing the challenges of extremism. It underlined the role of think tanks in providing practical insights that could form the basis for more proactive and effective European policies.
Education: An Early Battleground
Researcher Najla Al-Midfa focused on the central role of schools in combating extremism, explaining that with adequate support and oversight, educational institutions can serve as an early bulwark against radical ideas. If neglected, however, they can become fertile ground for extremist discourses to spread.
She emphasized that the importance of this approach lies in shifting the debate on extremism away from narrow security and military concerns toward a preventive and humanitarian dimension, grounded in values of tolerance and social resilience. She noted that extremism is not confined to any particular religion or culture, reflecting a comprehensive perspective that transcends stereotypes that associate the phenomenon exclusively with specific regions or groups.
The UAE As a Model, Europe as a Test Case
Researcher Latifa Al-Jneibi placed the UAE’s experience in countering extremism through education in comparative perspective with Europe. She stated that the UAE has successfully weakened the influence of Muslim Brotherhood-linked groups through a comprehensive national system that engages schools, society, and authorities in a unified preventive mechanism.
She offered a critical reading of Europe’s challenge, pointing out that the real danger lies not only in direct recruitment but also in the slow influence of networks operating through legitimate associations or parallel school programs. These efforts foster grievance-based narratives and erode young people’s trust in public institutions. This characterization sheds light on the soft threat that may be more serious than explicit calls for violence.
Al-Jneibi outlined a three-pronged roadmap: first, ensuring complete transparency for associations and organizations working with schools and youth to safeguard the integrity of funding and content; second, establishing a European educational resilience program that equips schools and teachers with practical tools to counter polarization, foster critical thinking, and strengthen digital verification skills; and third, creating a European house of expertise for evidence to identify which programs succeed and which fail, thereby directing resources more effectively.
She emphasized key “enablers,” such as unified public procurement standards to prevent unqualified associations from entering the system, and secure data partnerships that enable authorities to detect emerging trends early without compromising privacy.
The European Parliament session provided a platform to present an alternative approach that views schools as arenas for shaping a more cohesive future, emphasizing that investment in preventive education and institutional transparency is crucial for confronting future waves of extremism.
