Washington Post: On Feb. 18, the White House plans to host a “Summit on Countering Violent Extremism.” The Obama administration should use this summit to ask why, so many years after Sept. 11, 2001, policymakers have failed to effectively manage the growing global trend toward violent extremism. Theexisting strategies, overly focused on home-grown radicalization, fail to address its transnational roots. Given the clear and consistent correlation between failed governance, radicalization and violence, it is time to genuinely engage a sector that is often the glue, preventing struggling communities from spiraling out of control: Muslim NGOs.

Aid and development networks in the Muslim world sit at the nexus of a number of key elements related to Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) in the short, medium and long term. Their efforts in social infrastructure and economic development have long been recognized and supported by a range of international governance bodies. However, because Muslim NGOs are also often first-responders in crisis zones, they double as gatekeepers for transnational Muslim networks seeking to act in these areas (whether for benevolent purposes or otherwise). Over the last two years, our research through the British Council and U.S. Institute of Peace has explored best practices of Muslim community engagement in the context of security and development work. Conversations with experts and practitioners and field research on the Turkish-Syrian border has led to the conclusion that Muslim NGOs should be engaged as key players in a comprehensive CVE strategy that coordinates across the security, development and communication sectors.

More: