7 - Conclusions

Summary

This chapter translates the lessons learned from extremist side-switching into the context of countering violent extremism and deradicalization or disengagement work. First, I expore how far the initial decision to leave an extremist milieu among defectors to the enemy camp overlaps with the available knowledge about those exit processes leading to a life outside of extremism. It is argued that side-switching is a so far unknown type of disengagement process, which can be seen as an incomplete or failed exit process. Another important takeaway is that side-switchers retain particular ideological core elements (e.g., anti-Semitism, nationalism) and use them as ideological bridges betweenmilieus. For a majority of defectors, the continued desire to oppose the mainstream or a certain previously identified enemy, is the main inhibitor of leaving extremism altogether. The chapter includes a discussion on potential ways to improve countering violent extremism and counterterrorism methods with the insights gained from extremist side-switching.