This week, I talk about deradicalization and how to effectively fight extremist groups such as Neo-Nazis, white supremacists and even the Church of Scientology (spoiler: it’s not by punching them). Robert Örell is the Executive Director of Exit at Fryshuset. He has many years of experience working with individuals leaving violent extremist millieus and criminal gangs. Robert is a leading Swedish expert in the field and is involved in several international networks sharing knowledge and best practices in PVE, deradicalisation and exit work. He is an adviser to several NGOs looking to start Exit programs around the world.

Since 2011, Robert is a member of the Steering Comittee of the European Commision’s Radicalisation Awareness Network (RAN) where he is co-chair of the EXIT Working Group. Robert has studied Social Education and Psychotherapy. In 2015, he completed a certificate in Terrorism Studies from the University of St. Andrews, UK. See Robert’s TEDx Vilnius talk from April 2016: “A way out of violent extremism.”

Questions we discuss in this podcast:

(1) What is EXIT and how does it work? What do you do there?

(2) How did you end up in this line of work? What motivated you to do this?

(3) How big of a problem do you see radicalized or extremist individuals and groups in Europe and in the world?

(4) While what you do is very specialized work, do you have any advice for family or friends of people who get involved in extremist groups?

Exit Sweden: http://exit.fryshuset.se/english/

Contact Robert: [email protected]

Robert’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-%C3%B6rell-b5584460/

Robert’s TEDx on the mindset of violent extremism and the way out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNIgKsb1QbA

The RAN of the European Commission: https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/what-we-do/networks/radicalisation_awareness_network_en

Life After Hate: https://www.lifeafterhate.org/

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