Joan Anton: “To increase democratic civic culture is a key element to fight against radicalization processes”

Joan Anton is one of the coordinators of the master's degree in Intelligence Analyst in Barcelona.
Joan Anton is one of the coordinators of the master's degree in Intelligence Analyst in Barcelona.
Interviews
(03/09/2015)

To define the concept of ʻintelligenceʼ the American Psychological Association states: “Individuals differ one from each other in the ability to understand complex ideas, adapt themselves to the environment, learn from experience, find different ways to reason, to overcome difficulties by means of reflection. […] The concept of ʻintelligenceʼ is an attempt to clear and organise this complex group of phenomena”. The former definition fits quite well into the opinion of Joan Anton, professor of Political and Administrative Science of the UB, expert on political theory, intelligence and strategic analysis, and author of the book Islamismo Yihadista: Radicalización y Contrarradicalización (Tirant lo Blanc, March 2015). The book aims at extending the knowledge about the action of police forces, public offices, political leaders, social leaders, academics and security experts. Anton analyses the key role that strategic analysis and global plans play in combatting the risk of radical Islamism and the dangers of Jihadist terrorism.

Joan Anton is one of the experts that head the inter-university masterʼs degree in Intelligence Analyst in Barcelona. The masterʼs degree is coordinated by the Carlos III University of Madrid and has the participation of other institutions like the Rey Juan Carlos University, the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) and the University of Barcelona (UB). The main objectives of the masterʼs degree are to train professionals able to work as analysts at units of intelligence production, study services, prospective analysis, in departments of strategic planning at companies, non-governmental organizations and institutions and at public administrations.

Joan Anton is one of the coordinators of the master's degree in Intelligence Analyst in Barcelona.
Joan Anton is one of the coordinators of the master's degree in Intelligence Analyst in Barcelona.
Interviews
03/09/2015

To define the concept of ʻintelligenceʼ the American Psychological Association states: “Individuals differ one from each other in the ability to understand complex ideas, adapt themselves to the environment, learn from experience, find different ways to reason, to overcome difficulties by means of reflection. […] The concept of ʻintelligenceʼ is an attempt to clear and organise this complex group of phenomena”. The former definition fits quite well into the opinion of Joan Anton, professor of Political and Administrative Science of the UB, expert on political theory, intelligence and strategic analysis, and author of the book Islamismo Yihadista: Radicalización y Contrarradicalización (Tirant lo Blanc, March 2015). The book aims at extending the knowledge about the action of police forces, public offices, political leaders, social leaders, academics and security experts. Anton analyses the key role that strategic analysis and global plans play in combatting the risk of radical Islamism and the dangers of Jihadist terrorism.

Joan Anton is one of the experts that head the inter-university masterʼs degree in Intelligence Analyst in Barcelona. The masterʼs degree is coordinated by the Carlos III University of Madrid and has the participation of other institutions like the Rey Juan Carlos University, the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) and the University of Barcelona (UB). The main objectives of the masterʼs degree are to train professionals able to work as analysts at units of intelligence production, study services, prospective analysis, in departments of strategic planning at companies, non-governmental organizations and institutions and at public administrations.

 

What is radical Islamism? What concepts are key to understand it?

It is crucial to differentiate among Islam, Islamism and Jihadism or terrorism. Islam is a religion, Islamism is the political side of Islam, and Jihadism is its radicalization by using violence to achieve political aims. If these three concepts are not distinguished, we are in some way helping terrorists. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary to pay attention to killing words.

 

You are right, they must be distinguished. How has Jihadism rooted and spread?

In my opinion, Jihadism spread is mainly due to the catastrophic way in which the United States of America have dealt with the problem. They have made a series of mistakes, for example, the first one, to support radical Islamists in the War in Afghanistan and, then, the disastrous Iraq War, together with the overthrown of the Iraqi governmentand the dismantling of the army. Moreover, it must be said that to frame a war within a fight against terrorism is always a mistake. The positive option, like the attitude adopted by Spain after the attacks that took place in Madrid, is coping with the problem from the side of politics and security.

Nowadays, there are two extra problems: first, the great number of failed states that there are in Libya, Iraq and Syria, and second, the relief that the Islamic State has given to Al-Qaeda. Moreover, it is important to highlight a fact: we face the problem of integrating democratically 44 million people who profess Islam in Europe. We have to achieve that people who profess Islam believe that extremist discourse come from mad people, and we have to understand that we are not combating a religion, but a totalitarian ideology. In Europe, we know quite well totalitarianisms; we only need to remember 20th century fascism.

 
Have the United Stated played a key role?

The political actions that the United States have developed in the area have worsened the situation, for example letʼs remember Abu Ghraib* actions. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the United States became the dominant power, so any action they carry out is absolutely crucial in international politics. The European Union is an economic giant, but a political dwarf.

 

What strategies can be set up to try to solve the problem of radicalization?

The key is to adopt a pro-active attitude and anticipate events instead of adopting a reactive attitude —act only when something happens. It is also crucial to abandon the wrong idea that this problem only has to do with security, so it will be only solved with repressive actions. The problem is much more complex, its causes are diverse. The best way to cope with it is to stop thinking that a repressive attitude will solve it and tackle all its sides. The key point is to develop pro-active public policies not only on security aspects, but also on educational, social and economic affairs.

In this sense, there are four countries that are developing national plans against radicalization: the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway. It is important to analyse what actions are being made in these four countries. They follow EU general guidelines and their actions are focused on the leadership of public organizations because they are closer to citizens and, therefore, they have a greater number of tools at their disposal to carry out actions in the territory. I believe that these four cases must be studied in depth: analyse good and bad aspects, elaborate a general model and, departing from this model, observe what can be implemented in our country.

 

Does Islamic radicalization share some aspects with other trends of social radicalization?

Yes. For instance, in Norway, they are worried about the rise of the far right. Radicalization is a problem that must be approached from different perspectives. When a group radicalizes, whatever ideology it may have, the problem is the same. Every radicalization phenomenon must be faced, whatever shape it takes. The problem is the same, independently of who they are: Islamists, anti-abortion supporters, animal rights activists, etc. Democracy consists in accepting the conflict and searching for solutions. To increase democratic civic culture is a key element to fight against radicalization processes.

 

Is Eurozone crisis a fertilised field for the spread of Islamic radicalization?

Obviously, the crisis aggravates the problem. As I said before, there are 44 million immigrants in Europe, and crisis is particularly affecting them. Crisis has damaged especially middle and lower-middle classes. In a crisis situation every problem gets worse, so it is when a democratic answer is required.

 
Is it taking place?

There is a lack of analytical skills. The problem is addressed from different perspectives, but in a separate way: on one hand, it is analysed from an educational perspective; on the other hand, it is analysed from a health perspective; then, from a political way, etc. But the thing is that there are departments able to analyse problems in a global way, particularly when they are so important.

 
Do we have this type of departments?

In Spain, we have the National Intelligence Centre (CNI), an organization able to develop this type of global analyses. However, in the United Kingdom there is a subject area named ʻintelligence studiesʼ, but this field of knowledge does not exist in Spain. Some universities and academic groups have been developing research lines on these questions for a decade. They are very recent topics; we introduce them gradually, mainly because the society needs this type of academic development. The State needs to make economic intelligence; big companies, in a globalised world, need to make competitive intelligence. In Madrid, the Rey Juan Carlos University created a chair of this topic ten years ago; the Carlos III University of Madrid also has a research institute. In Barcelona, the UB and the UAB have been developing strategic research on these topics for a few years. Now, there is an inter-university masterʼs degree, developed together with Madridʼs universities, that also takes place in Barcelona, led by the UAB and the UB.

 

What profile do master students have? What are the methodological guidelines of the masterʼs degree?

Students can join the masterʼs degree from any branch of knowledge, scientific or social. There are not any knowledge requirements as the degree demands a standard analytical ability. Analysis is the main element, in other words, to study in depth a specific analytical methodology that allows reaching solid conclusions and make decisions in the business field, from economic, administrative and political perspectives.  Sessions are divided into modules; students are asked to participate actively, analyse different materials, and reach solid conclusions. Placements are decisive. The masterʼs degree has signed several agreements with administrations and companies in which students can apply analysis knowledge as if they were working on their own: students are given the job of doing something, individually or in groups, under the supervision of a tutor who guide them from the beginning to the elaboration of the final report.

 

Universities asked experts a closer relationship with the society, in other words, you are asked to transfer knowledge in more quickly and effective way. However, your opinions are not always listened as we have observed for instance in councils when experts have made alerts about the management of European economic crisis. Why are expert reports and opinions not always considered?

Powers usually want to listen what they wish to listen. Obviously, that involves denying analysis, which must be objective and rigorous. Members of international expert networks have been lately highlighting the importance of offering training for politicians in order to enable them understand what it is asked when information is demanded, so they increase their ability to understand facts when they receive reports and analysis. These are very difficult matters, for example, when a company positions itself in the market, it faces its rivals, and that is difficult to harmonize. Nevertheless, some countries have been working on these aspects for several years, so we have to find out what has worked well and take some notes. Not doing it means missing the train.

 

Letʼs go back to Islamic radicalization. A press headline highlights your words: “The Islamic State is sentenced to death”. Do you continue thinking it?

With these words, I meant that it will disappear as the region gets stable from a geostrategic point of view. It is a particularly conflictive area, like the Balkans, and there is also the Arab-Israeli conflict problem which makes it even more complex. Western countries should definitely try to stabilise the area, beginning with Tunisia, Libya, Iraq and Syria. Tunisia is a good ally. Tunisia and Libya should be the stabilization priorities. Radicalization is a process and its final phase is terrorism. It is important to highlight that police forces are doing a great job. It will be interesting to include training for journalists and media workers in the design of a national plan against radicalization in order to establish homogeneous communication policies that promote democratic civic culture, the appropriate integration of other religions, and the development of a public opinion that strongly supports democratic integration.

Nowadays, we only co-exist with other ethnic groups, but we should get pass this phase in order to achieve harmonious coexistence. Then, every person can keep his/her believes. In order to get it, public powers must understand better the phenomenon and design global plans to increase the level of democratic civic culture, accepting that we live in a multi-cultural society composed by Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, etc. As citizens, we must be absolute sure that the best way to solve conflicts is to listen to all sides and reach agreements.

 

What role should media adopt when dealing with information about this problem?

They should escape from sensationalism, from dramatic headlines. Media must be aware of the importance of their opinion because they create opinion, so they have to think well what they are going to say. I suggested to create, from different institutions —the European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed), the Barcelona Centre for International Affairs (CIDOB) and the International Catalan Institute for Peace (ICIP)—, an expert seminar to analyse these issues. One of the first actions will be the organization of a course for mass media.

 

And, what role does the civil society play when dealing this problem?

First, they have to understand that urban landscape has changed. My neighbourhood is no longer like it was when I was a child. That neighbourhood does not exist anymore. Changes must be assumed and everyone must understand that we all have rights and obligations, so we have to create spaces for coexistence and mutual respect. This must be promoted by every authority, from the Government to every local administration.

 

(*) Abu Ghraib is known for its prison. It gained popularity in 2003 when media published photos and denounced the use of brutal methods of torture against insurgent prisoners and Iraqi civilians by North-American occupation forces.

 

Further information about the book Islamismo yihadista: radicalización y contrarradicalización

 

Further information about the masterʼs degree in Intelligence Analyst (Registration deadline: 13 September).