After more than four years of intensive research, the RADIS Research Network presented its findings to a broad audience of scholars, policy makers, practitioners, media professionals and civil society actors. The final conference and knowledge exchange event took place on April 8 at the Leibniz Association in Berlin.
The conference opened with a welcome address from the Federal Minister of Education and Research, Cem Özdemir, followed by introductory remarks from Julian Junk, head of the RADIS transfer project. “Every change begins with understanding its causes,” said Özdemir. What’s needed, he emphasised, is not action for its own sake, but rather sustainable solutions. The long-term research conducted within the RADIS network offers crucial insights in this regard. The minister announced that the Federal Ministry of Education and Research will provide an additional 15 million euros for research on Islamism in the coming years.
In his opening remarks, Julian Junk reflected on the long journey of Islamism research, which has already yielded many important findings. At the same time, he pointed out significant research gaps – especially regarding the interconnections between radicalisation, racism, discrimination, and social exclusion. Both Özdemir and Junk emphasised that dealing with the phenomenon of Islamism is not a fringe issue, but one that lies at the heart of our democracy.
The first panel brought together Naika Foroutan (DeZIM Institute/Project D:Islam), Eva Herschinger (CISS), Sebastian Kurtenbach (FH Münster/Project RadiRa), and Thomas Mücke (VPN), who discussed insights gained from four years of research and the relevance of studying Islamism. The panelists agreed on the importance of strong networks –not only within academia, but also with practitioners, policy makers, and civil society stakeholders. RADIS was highlighted as a positive example of a "network of networks." Naika Foroutan underlined the importance of closely linking basic research and professional practice, as this is the only way to ensure that research can respond to societal developments in real time.
The following session showcased the breadth of the RADIS research network: all 12 projects presented their findings in brief pitches, moderated by Shaimaa Abdellah (RADIS). Over coffee and cake, participants from research, practice, policy, and security authorities engaged in lively exchanges. The conversations were sparked by posters, which can be found on each project’s page on the RADIS website.
Lars Wiegold (RADIS) and Sina Tultschinetski (RADIS) moderated the subsequent Fishbowl session, in which rotating experts explored the guiding question: What can we do to counter radicalisation—and what is needed to achieve this? Götz Nordbruch (ufuq.de), Gert Pickel (Leipzig University/ Project RIRA), and Aisha-Nusrat Ahmad (WinRa / DeZIM Institute) discussed blind spots in research. The complexity of Muslim life in Germany is often overlooked, they noted. Ahmad emphasised the importance of deeper dialogue about the connections between Islamism and anti-Muslim racism. She also highlighted the need to create positive narratives to counter radicalisation tendencies. This naturally transitioned into a discussion of practical needs, taken up by Svetla Koynova (VPN), Jörn Thielmann (FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg / Project Interdependencies), and Jens Ostwald (IU International University). Thielmann pointed out that the structural recognition of Muslim associations can serve as a form of radicalisation prevention. The panel also discussed the relevance of digital spaces and gender-specific approaches in radicalisation research and prevention.
In the third round of the Fishbowl, Matthias Heider (IDZ Jena), Juliane Kanitz (i-unito), and Jamuna Oehlmann (BAG RelEx) discussed the importance of knowledge transfer. Civil society stakeholders are under mounting pressure to act, said Jamuna Oehlmann. For instance, teachers are often overwhelmed. Here, research can offer support through scientifically grounded guidelines. Given the risk of knowledge loss and the short duration of many projects in both academia and practice, it is also crucial to establish sustainable structures to ensure long-term impact.
The evening panel was moderated by journalist and TV presenter Vivian Perkovic. Together with Petra Pau (former Vice President of the German Bundestag, Die Linke), Susanne Pickel (University of Duisburg-Essen/Project RIRA), Ye-One Rhie (research policy expert, SPD), and Andreas Zick (IKG / RADIS), she discussed the steps needed to adequately address Islamism. It became clear that Islamism has become more global, more digital, and younger—and therefore requires a comprehensive societal response. While prevention in digital spaces must be strengthened, schools also need to be better equipped to handle the various forms of extremism. Islamism is a serious concern, said Andreas Zick, but we must not lose sight of the threat posed by right-wing extremism.
The day's insights were further explored over drinks and light refreshments. This marked not only the end of the conference, but also the culmination of several years of collaborative research and networking. The results of this effort highlight the crucial importance of ongoing dialogue between academia, practice, and politics for effective prevention.
The video documentation of the conference can be found on the PRIF YouTube channel.
