Review - New Approaches to Countering Terror: Countering Violent Extremism

New Approaches to Countering Terror: Countering Violent Extremism is a short course by University of Maryland and offered through Coursera.

The course is delivered through a series of videos. As with other Coursera offerings, you can audit the course for free or pay $65 for the assessed Certificate option.

Structured over 4 weeks (though you can take it as quick as you like), the following topics are covered.

• Discussion of Violent Extremism

• Theories and Mechanisms of Radicalization

• Profiles of Radicalization in the United States

• Prison Radicalization

• The Promise and Challenges of CVE

• The Spectrum of Efforts

• CVE Taxonomy

•  What Makes Community Members Willing to Engage with Law Enforcement

• The Role of Mental Health Professionals

• The Role of Former Violent Extremists in CVE

• The Role of Communities and Bystanders

• Overcoming Resistance to CVE

• DOVE Model

• CVE Programs Around the World- The Muslim Public Council's Safe Spaces

• CVE Programs Around the World- Exit USA

• CVE Programs Around the World- Peer To Peer

• CVE Programs Around the World- Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership in Mali

• CVE Programs Around the World- Singapore's Religious Rehabilitation Group

• CVE Programs Around the World- Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration of FARC

• CVE Programs Around the World- Deradicalization of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam

• CVE Programs Around the World- Saudi Arabia's Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Aftercare Program

This is a good entry level course that addresses the differences between Terrorism and Violent Extremism as well as providing many “real-world” examples and case studies. Whilst not a financial crime or terrorist financing targeted course, the content and case studies are insightful as they reveal - or at least start the thought process - some of the potential activities related to Terrorism/Violent Extremism. In turn, this allows the Financial Crime Professional to ability to consider how these activities could be represented in financial transactions.

I would recommend to Financial Crime Professionals who are - in conjunction with other courses - looking to enhance their understanding of Terrorism (and Terrorism Financing) and Violent Extremism and how these may be observed in the financial activity of any subject under investigation.