Working Against Radicalization and Extremism – Evidence-Based Intervention Approaches and Research

In a political climate marked by the pressures of a second Trump administration, diversity, equality, and social cohesion face growing challenges. Many Americans are experiencing rising levels of hate speech, discrimination, and violence in their daily lives. 

This digital lunch discussion seeks to highlight one approach to counter these challenges. We will speak with Fielding Montgomery, Senior Qualitative Methodologist for Research on Antisemitism at the Polarization & Extremism Research and Innovation Lab (PERIL) at American University in Washington, D.C., who will present the lab’s philosophy and methodology, drawing on examples from past projects. 

PERIL takes a public health approach to counter these trends. It develops, tests, and scales evidence-based tools and strategies to reduce the risks of radicalization linked to harmful content — both online and offline— including conspiracy theories, disinformation, propaganda, and supremacist ideologies. 

Instead of relying on traditional security-based measures like surveillance, censorship, or incarceration, PERIL pursues a multidisciplinary and pre-preventative approach that addresses hate, bias, and radicalization before they escalate into violent extremism. 

Key Discussion Questions:  

• What are the key learnings from PERILS work so far and how might they have changed in an increasingly hostile social and political environment? 
• How might learnings from the US context be transferred to the German context?