Description
Recent headlines in several NATO countries have sparked a public fear of a potential extremist threat against liberal-democratic forms of government originating within the armed forces established to protect them. Although numbers involved are very small when compared to those currently serving or who have previously served in the military, concerns regarding potential recruitment to, or sympathy for, extremist ideologies and groups cannot be lightly dismissed. With this in mind, this presentation will examine and compare the legal frameworks, regulations, and best practices of six NATO member states (Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, and France) to counter radicalization and extremism within their armed forces. In doing so, the authors assess the extent to which safeguards against radicalization and extremism exist within the armed forces of these six countries. Considerations include what significant gaps exist between legal, regulatory, and policy frameworks in effectively addressing radicalization/extremism within national armed forces of these NATO members, what lessons can be learntfrom these respective approaches, and to what degree they are transferable to other countries.
