The COVID-19 Pandemic and Response on Violent Extremist Recruitment and Radicalisation

This helpdesk report provides evidence on the potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and response on violent extremist recruitment and radicalisation. The report is structured in four main sections. The first section contains a summary of the report. Section two provides an overview of literature on the drivers of radicalisation identified in the literature. Section three explores emerging narratives regarding violent extremism during the pandemic response, this section draws heavily on opinion pieces and journalistic commentary. The final section seeks to reflect more broadly on how the pandemic may impact over short, medium and long term time frames.

This report was prepared for the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and its partners in support of pro-poor programmes.