Jordan panel calls for 'participatory approach' to combat extremism

Jordanian officials and activists stressed the critical role sustainable development plays in combating extremism during a recent forum in Amman.

Eradicating the scourge of terrorism and extremism requires a participatory approach involving all segments of society, government officials and activists at the February 27th "Partners in Development and Stability" forum agreed.

Marginalisation is one of the pathways that can lead to terrorism, Minister of Education Omar Razzaz said in a speech at the forum, put on by the Co-ordinating Committee of Civil Society (Himam).

A key factor in combating terrorism is empowering youth and making them feel they are engaged at all levels and in all aspects of society, Razzaz said.

He stressed the need for accountability with regard to Jordan’s various strategies to empower young people and combat extremism, saying the poor implementation of these strategies is due to the lack of accountability tools.

The Ministry of Education must be seen as a nucleus, he added -- a participatory space whose doors are open to all -- and not as a closed citadel.

Educational development councils and kindergartens could do more to involve local communities in the education process and in the protection of educational properties, Razzaz said.

"Sustainable development has a direct correlation to countering extremism and combating marginalisation," said Mai Eliemat, director of strategic planning and research at Al-Hayat Centre for Civil Society Development.

Marginalisation leads to a sense of isolation in society, she told Al-Mashareq.

Extremism can be triggered by socio-economic factors, she said, adding that sustainable development can address this issue at the root, by tackling youth poverty and unemployment, lack of motivation and a sense of injustice.

"Any effort to combat extremism will not succeed without focus on sustainable development, whose benefits are felt by all segments of society," she said.

Greater role for civil society

Civil society organisations play a key role in development, Eliemat said, but their role must be enhanced to enable them to participate in the formulation of policies and programmes designed to combat extremism.

"Civil society organisations are very active in the area of awareness raising, but they must be involved more closely in the formulation of strategies," she said.

The forum sought to highlight the key role played by civil society, said Nidal Mansour, president of the Centre for Defending the Freedom of Journalists.

"It is impossible to fight terrorism and extremism without the support and participation of civil society organisations," he told Al-Mashareq.

These organisations should play a greater consultative role in the formulation of counter-terrorism strategies, he said.

"Governments alone cannot combat extremism, violence and terrorism, as this is everyone's responsibility," Mansour added.

Civil society organisations must be allowed to participate more freely in raising an enlightened generation, Al-Quds Centre for Political Studies general director Oraib al-Rantawi told Al-Mashareq.

"Raising enlightened and educated generations, the creation of job opportunities and giving the youth hope play a key role in fighting marginalisation -- one of the causes of extremism and violence," he said.