
[677] Paper Early Intervention with Violent and Racist Youth Groups Tore Bjørgo and Yngve Carlsson No. 677 – 2005 Norwegian Institute Norsk of International Utenrikspolitisk Affairs Institutt Utgiver: NUPI Copyright: © Norsk Utenrikspolitisk Institutt 2005 ISSN: 0800 - 0018 Alle synspunkter står for forfatternes regning. De må ikke tolkes som uttrykk for oppfatninger som kan tillegges Norsk Utenrikspolitisk Institutt. Artiklene kan ikke reproduseres - helt eller delvis - ved trykking, fotokopiering eller på annen måte uten tillatelse fra forfatterne. Any views expressed in this publication are those of the author. They should not be interpreted as reflecting the views of the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs. The text may not be printed in part or in full without the permission of the author. Besøksadresse: C.J. Hambrosplass 2d Addresse: Postboks 8159 Dep. 0033 Oslo Internett: www.nupi.no E-post: [email protected] Fax: [+ 47] 22 36 21 82 Tel: [+ 47] 22 99 40 00 Early Intervention with Violent and Racist Youth Groups Tore Bjørgo and Yngve Carlsson [Abstract] The present book provides insights into the processes and motivations invol-ved in group formation and joining, as well as into group cohesiveness and dis-integration, and the processes whereby individual members disengage or are unable to do so. Various forms of interaction between the group and the social environment will also have great impact on the fate of the group and its members. These are all processes and mechanisms that can be influ-enced through prevention and intervention measures – and more effectively so if action is based on knowledge of both the general phenomenon as well as of the local situation. The text provides a detailed description of several intervention methods and programmes that have been developed to address problems of violent and/or racist youth groups and violence, and that have been demonstrated to have some success in that respect. The main target groups are youth workers, social workers, teachers, police officers, municipal administrators, policy mak-ers and other practitioners who are in positions where they have to handle emerging problems of racist and violent youth groups, as well as stu-dents to these professions. Content Preface ............................................................................................................ 7 About the Authors .......................................................................................... 9 1. Introduction .............................................................................................. 11 The group dimensions of violence................................................................ 11 2. Why do Young People Join Racist Groups – and why do They Leave? .. 17 Introduction .................................................................................................. 17 Research on disengagement from extremist groups ..................................... 19 Entry ............................................................................................................. 19 Community-building and bridge-burning..................................................... 22 Reasons for considering leaving the group................................................... 25 Factors inhibiting disengagement................................................................. 30 Exit Options.................................................................................................. 32 When Groups Lose their Grip on Members ................................................. 38 Conclusions .................................................................................................. 40 3. How do Violent Youth Groups and Gangs Fall Apart: Processes of Transformation and Disintegration............................................................... 43 Gang basics................................................................................................... 43 Processes of gang transformation ................................................................. 44 Processes of gang disintegration................................................................... 46 Aging out...................................................................................................... 47 Defeat ........................................................................................................... 47 Loss of external enemies or threats .............................................................. 47 Loss of status, identity, and image ............................................................... 48 Decay of internal group relations ................................................................. 49 Fragmentation............................................................................................... 50 Final remarks................................................................................................ 51 References .................................................................................................... 51 4. What Do They Fight Over? A Multi-dimensional Approach to Racist Violence........................................................................................................ 53 5. The Exit Project: Promoting Disengagement from Violent and Racist Groups......................................................................................... 65 Background................................................................................................... 65 The emergence of the Exit project................................................................ 66 The parental network group.......................................................................... 67 The Empowerment Conversation ................................................................. 69 The proliferation of the Exit model .............................................................. 70 Exit in Sweden.............................................................................................. 70 Exit Deutschland and governmental Aussteigerprogramme in Germany .... 73 Exit in Finland and Switzerland ................................................................... 76 Some comparative comments and conclusions ............................................ 78 6 Tore Bjørgo and Yngve Carlsson 6. Knowledge based Action against Racist Violence: The Advisory Service for Local Work Against Xenophobic Violence ............................... 83 Introduction .................................................................................................. 83 Knowledge based and rational action........................................................... 83 Media-attention and seemingly irrational responses .................................... 84 A simple measure against a complicated problem ....................................... 85 Quick assistance to avoid ‘silly’ action ........................................................ 86 What kind of knowledge and assistance? ..................................................... 86 Making a local diagnosis and analysis ......................................................... 87 Some key questions for the local diagnosis.................................................. 90 What to do?................................................................................................... 93 Conclusion.................................................................................................... 94 7. Preventive Police Work in Practice: The Empowerment Conversation... 95 8. Violent Youth Groups: Strategies for Prevention and Intervention within the Scandinavian Welfare State......................................................... 99 The connection between concept and action .............................................. 100 The Norwegian Gang-concept.................................................................... 101 The Danish bande-concept ......................................................................... 101 Local strategies within the welfare state..................................................... 102 Worrying and concern ................................................................................ 103 To select preventive measures from the huge prevention cafeteria............ 104 What do we know about gang-prevention and intervention in Scandinavia? And what should we do? .................................................. 107 Involving local politicians .......................................................................... 110 Towards more control?............................................................................... 111 Reasons for worrying for the future ........................................................... 112 nupi july 05 Preface Racist groups and skinhead gangs usually recruit among very young people. In most cases, such adolescents do not join racist groups because they are racists initially. Racist ideology is usually adopted as a consequence rather than being a cause for joining the group. These tight-knit and secluded groups are attractive to some youths because they fulfil several of their so- cial and psychological needs in terms of providing identity, community, pro- tection, and excitement – quite normal needs that they have not got fulfilled in ordinary contexts. However, joining such a group has severe conse- quences in terms of being socialized into an extremist worldview and a vio- lent and criminal style of behaviour. In its turn, this may lead to victimisa- tion of others as well
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