The (R)Age Blind Spot - Radicalisation in Later Life as a Challenge for Disengagement and Exit Work
Radicalisation in later life has so far received little attention in public discourse, research and exit work in Germany. The focus usually remains on adolescents and young adults. Yet older people also engage in anti-democratic milieus, radicalise online, or reinforce extremist worldviews at later stages of life. This can directly affect younger generations, who encounter radicalised older persons within their families or social environments. Insufficient awareness of age-specific needs, vulnerabilities and accessibility poses new challenges for practitioners and policymakers alike.
The first dist[ex] Policy Paper, “The (R)Age Blind Spot”, addresses this underexplored topic and formulates concrete policy recommendations to strengthen prevention and disengagement efforts in this field. Beyond a stronger empirical basis, sustainable funding structures, appropriate access to the target group, and a broader societal debate on the issue are needed. In this regard, the work of dist[ex] – Development of a Network for Disengagement and Exit Work represents an important first step.