Part 1of2 Bjorn Ihler: Radical Listening To Heal Violent Extremism

Mar 5, 2023

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Can Listening CRUSH Extremism and Generate Radical Unity?

In what appears to be a profoundly divided world, we must discover the meaningful and profound difference we can make.

Radicalization is real! We can see it across political lines. And for most people, it's something terrible we speak about as a passing news story.

However, what happens when radicalization goes from being on the news to becoming something in your local community or, worse still, something that becomes real within your own family?

It's only when these issues become personal, instead of quickly judging these radicals by whatever disparaging comment we might throw around, we can consider the complexity of the human being. When radicalism makes its way into your community or family, you will find yourself asking, "Why" would anyone go down that road, and what can we do to bring someone locked into what can be very destructive behaviors home?

Well, that's where we’re going with our guest for the next two episodes, Bjørn Ihler.

Over the past decade, Bjørn has been one of the leading voices in the global efforts to counter and prevent the spread of violent extremism that can lead to terrorism.

Through his work, Bjorn has been striving for a more principled approach to counter-terrorism, building a universalist understanding of violent extremism, irrespective of ideology, and rooting his efforts in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and principles of Peacebuilding. Through these approaches, Bjorn has held governments and companies accountable to changing the threat landscape and building safer communities.

Since 2016, he has worked with the group, Extremely Together under the Kofi Annan Foundation. From 2020 to July 2022, Bjorn served as the inaugural chair of the Independent Advisory Committee of the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism. He has worked with and advised local organizations, national governments, private sector companies, and international institutions such as the EU, OSCE, and the UN through his international work.

Website

Co-Founder & Director - Khalifa Ihler Institute

Co-Founder & Co-CEO - Glitterpill LLC

Social Media

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bjornih

https://twitter.com/bjornih

https://twitter.com/KhalifaIhler

https://www.facebook.com/Khalifaihler

Part 1) Why Listening is the Key to CRUSHING Extremism.