Introduction

This chapter provides a general introduction to the book, by clarifying its rationale and context, its added value and contribution to the literature, and its main structure. It defines the purpose of the volume as a contribution to emerging research on the prevention of violent extremism from a meso-level perspective, focusing on intra- and inter-group dynamics, to explain the emergence and persistence of, or resilience against, violent extremism at the community level. Its uniqueness lies in its actor-centric approach, which uncovers the landscape of actors that play relevant roles in fuelling or preventing violent extremism affecting their communities. The chapter also defines the key terms and concepts under study and justifies the geographical scope of study, namely, an inter-regional inquiry covering the Western Balkans, the Middle East, and North Africa. Finally, it presents the structure of the book, divided into three main sections that successively analyse three types of actors (and their inter-relations): state actors, religious actors (both formal and informal), and civil society actors (including social and traditional media).