The Impact of International Involvement on Countering Violent Extremism in Recipient States

Abstract

Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) is a rapidly developing area that is being increasingly introduced into recipient states. Although monitoring and evaluation as well as best practices are improving, as CVE becomes more mainstream and subsequently standardised, the impact of international parties’ involvement in this security realm is yet to be examined. CVE programmes in recipient states can be affected by more than just international donors including regional organisations, international organisations and existing political and economic relationships with other states. This thesis will take an inductive empirical methodological approach and will use the case studies of Kyrgyzstan and Indonesia to examine the impact of international involvement on CVE in recipient states. Kyrgyzstan is a relatively recent democracy that has faced internal conflicts and continues to experience ethnic tensions. With numerous international states and organisations involved, Kyrgyzstan has conflicting influencers on ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ CT approaches as well as lacking the domestic capacity to take national ownership of existing CVE programmes. Indonesia’s relationship with its two primary donors – the U.S. and Australia – has transitioned from recipient-donor to partnership as they have economically, politically and socially developed. Indonesia has an active and thriving CSO environment, however, it continues to experience systemic institutional difficulties regarding coordination and corruption in domestic bodies. Key areas relevant to the impact on recipient states are identified including civil society actors, understanding and expertise, domestic accountability and coordination, as well as hard-line versus community approaches. The potential consequences of international involvement in implementing security orientated programmes amongst vulnerable communities are numerous, not only on the recipient states’ population but for national ownership, domestic policy, grassroots organisations and NGOs. The lines between CVE and development are increasingly blurred, with the security orientated CVE initiatives incorporated and packaged into development programmes. Given the potential ramifications on vulnerable and developing populations and communities, international involvement in CVE should be further examined as programmes become increasingly utilised internationally.