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  • © 2020

Countering Violent Extremism

Making Gender Matter

Palgrave Macmillan
  • Provides original information based on field research on violent extremism with some 250 people in five countries
  • Develops a comparative and gender framework for understanding countering violent extremism to both the far right and violent Jihad
  • Prioritises lived experiences and engagements with communities with countering violent extremism

Part of the book series: Rethinking Political Violence (RPV)

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Table of contents (9 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xvii
  2. Theory

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1
    2. Introduction

      • Elizabeth Pearson, Emily Winterbotham, Katherine E. Brown
      Pages 3-25
    3. Gender, Violent Extremism and Countering It

      • Elizabeth Pearson, Emily Winterbotham, Katherine E. Brown
      Pages 27-79
    4. Understanding the Findings: Country Contexts

      • Elizabeth Pearson, Emily Winterbotham, Katherine E. Brown
      Pages 81-137
    5. The Milieu Approach

      • Elizabeth Pearson, Emily Winterbotham, Katherine E. Brown
      Pages 139-166
  3. Findings

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 167-167
    2. Violent Extremism and Gender: Knowledge and Experience

      • Elizabeth Pearson, Emily Winterbotham, Katherine E. Brown
      Pages 169-199
    3. Countering Violent Extremism and Gender: Challenging Assumptions

      • Elizabeth Pearson, Emily Winterbotham, Katherine E. Brown
      Pages 201-232
    4. The Far Right and Gender

      • Elizabeth Pearson, Emily Winterbotham, Katherine E. Brown
      Pages 233-279
    5. Policy Recommendations: Gender-Mainstreaming CVE

      • Elizabeth Pearson, Emily Winterbotham, Katherine E. Brown
      Pages 281-310
    6. Conclusions: The Future of Gender, Violent Extremism and CVE

      • Elizabeth Pearson, Emily Winterbotham, Katherine E. Brown
      Pages 311-328
  4. Back Matter

    Pages 329-348

About this book

This book presents original research on gender and the power dynamics of diverse forms of violent extremism, and efforts to counter them. Based on focus group and interview research with some 250 participants in Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands and UK in 2015 and 2016, it offers insights from communities affected by radicalisation and violent extremism. It introduces the concept of gendered radicalisation, exploring how the multiple factors of paths to violent extremist groups – social, local, individual and global – can differ for both men and women, and why. The book also offers a critical analysis of gender and terrorism; a summary of current policy in the five countries of study and some of the core gendered assumptions prevalent in interventions to prevent violent extremism; a comparison of Jihadi extremism and the far right; and a chapter of recommendations. This book is of use to academics, policy-makers, students and the general reader interested in better understanding a phenomenon defining our times.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law and Criminology, Swansea University, Swansea, UK

    Elizabeth Pearson

  • The Royal United Services Institute, London, UK

    Emily Winterbotham

  • University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

    Katherine E. Brown

About the authors

Elizabeth Pearson is Lecturer at Swansea University and Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, UK. She specialises in gender in extremism and counter extremism in the UK, Europe and West Africa. 


Emily Winterbotham is Senior Research Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, UK, and a Deployable Civilian Expert for the UK Government’s Stabilisation Unit. Previously, Emily worked as a Political Adviser to the European Union Special Representative to Afghanistan.


Katherine E. Brown is Senior Lecturer at the University of Birmingham, UK, and focuses on the role of religion and gender in violent extremism and counter extremism. Katherine has a particular interest in the gendered impacts of state responses on the human rights of religious communities. 


Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access