There are many terms and expressions used in discussion and debate about PREVENT. This glossary sets out what is meant by particular words or phrases. Please note these definitions relate to PREVENT and are not always authoritative in any wider context. This glossary is based on the one included in the Government’s PREVENT Strategy.
Counter-radicalisation usually refers to activity aimed at a group of people intended to dissuade them from engaging in terrorism-related activity.
De-radicalisation usually refers to activity aimed at a person who supports terrorism and in some cases has engaged in terrorist related activity, which is intended to effect cognitive and/or behavioural change leading to a new outlook on terrorism and/or disengagement from it.
Disengagement in the context of this document is the process whereby an individual ceases to be involved terrorism.
Extremism is vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. We also include in our definition of extremism calls for the death of members of our armed forces, whether in this country or overseas.
Ideology refers to a set of beliefs.
Ideologue describes a proponent as well as an adherent of an ideology.
Insurgent refers to an individual who fights against a government or an occupying force with the aim of overthrowing it.
Interventions are projects intended to divert people who are being drawn into terrorist activity. Interventions can include mentoring, counselling, theological support, encouraging civic engagement, developing support networks (family and peer structures) or providing mainstream services (education, employment, health, finance or housing).
Islamism is a philosophy which, in the broadest sense, promotes the application of Islamic values to modern government. There are no commonly agreed definitions of ‘Islamism’ and ‘Islamist’, and groups or individuals described as Islamist often have very different aims and views about how those aims might be realised. Some militant Islamists would endorse violence or terrorism to achieve their aims. Many Islamists do not.
Prevention in the context of the PREVENT Strategy means reducing or eliminating the risk of individuals becoming involved in terrorism. PREVENT involves the identification and referral of those susceptible to violent extremism into appropriate interventions. These interventions aim to divert the susceptible from embarking down the path to radicalisation.
Radicalisation refers to the process by which a person comes to support terrorism and forms of extremism leading to terrorism.
Radicaliser describes an individual who encourages others to develop or adopt beliefs and views supportive of terrorism and forms of extremism leading to terrorism.
Radicalising locations are venues, often unsupervised, where the process of radicalisation takes place. Locations include public spaces, for example university campuses and mosques, as well as private/more concealed locations such as homes, cafes, and bookstores.
Radicalising materials include literature or videos that are used by radicalisers to encourage or reinforce individuals to adopt a violent ideology. Some of this material may explicitly encourage violence. Other materials may take no avowed position on violence but make claims to which violence is subsequently presented as the only solution.
Resilience in the context of PREVENT means the capability of people, groups and communities to rebut and reject proponents of terrorism and the ideology they promote.
Safeguarding is the process of protecting vulnerable people, whether from crime, other forms of abuse or (in the context PREVENT) from being drawn into terrorism-related activities.
Single narrative is a term sometimes used to refer to the particular interpretation of religion, history and politics that is associated with Al Qa’ida and like minded groups. The narrative connects ‘grievances’ at a local and/or global level, reinforces the portrayal of Muslims as victims of Western injustice and thereby purports to legitimise terrorism. It combines fact, fiction, emotion and religion and manipulates discontent about local and international issues. The single narrative is also sometimes known as the Al Qa’ida Narrative, the Grand Narrative or the Global Extremist Narrative.
Terrorism is defined in the Terrorism Act 2000 as an action that endangers or causes serious violence to a person/people; causes serious damage to property; or seriously interferes or disrupts an electronic system. The use or threat must be designed to influence the government or to intimidate the public and is made for the purpose of advancing a political, religious or ideological cause.
Vulnerability describes the condition of being capable of being injured; difficult to defend; open to moral or ideological attack. Within PREVENT, the word describes factors and characteristics associated with being susceptible to radicalisation.