ABSTRACT
Rehabilitation of violent extremists and terrorists back into society has emerged as a major policy concern as well as a challenge in countering violent extremism and counterterrorism programmes. This chapter presents a critical discussion of the economic dimension of a rehabilitation programme, particularly drawing on long experience and insight gained from the reintegration and rehabilitation of ex-combatants in post-conflict peacebuilding around the world. Although there are contextual, ideological and historical differences between rehabilitation of ex-combatants and rehabilitation of terrorists, parallels can be drawn between the processes of how and the way in which both ex-combatants and terrorists gradually re-acquire civilian status. The chapter engages in a critical discussion of economic rehabilitation, a process through which the participants gain economic independence and facilitate their re-entry into society. The chapter argues that economic rehabilitation is complemented by social and psychosocial rehabilitation and is contingent on the ability of participants to forge social capital with their families, friends and social networks.
