Development of a Network for Disengagement and Exit Work
dist[ex] - Development of a Network for Disengagement and Exit Work is a cooperation network founded in 2025 that supports the nationwide networking and strengthening of dissociation and exit work in the context of extremism. The aim is to establish a civil society network to promote exchange, cooperation and professional development in the field of work.
Structures, organisers and objectives
Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Ausstieg zum Einstieg e. V., Grüner Vogel e. V., the Interdisciplinary Centre for the Prevention of Radicalisation and Promotion of Democracy (IZRD e.V.), Legato / Vereinigung Pestalozzi gGmbH and Violence Prevention Network gGmbH work closely together in dist[ex]. Together with civil society organisations, experts and projects from all over Germany, a network is being created that:
- promotes professional development in the field of work,
- expands co-operation with relevant regulatory structures
- and acts as a representative of civil society interests.
The network is coordinated by Violence Prevention Network gGmbH. With a term of eight years, dist[ex] focuses on sustainability, structural anchoring and nationwide impact.
Background
Social conflicts come to light in a particularly concentrated form in counselling work. Increasing polarisation and radicalisation are leading to the spread of extremist movements, which - despite their differences - are united by key characteristics:
- Rejection of democratic institutions and pluralistic values,
- constructions of inequality,
- frequent acceptance of violence as a political tool.
These phenomena create compartmentalised milieus with rigid world views in which conflict resolution and open opinion-forming are systematically undermined.
Central questions in the network
The context described above gives rise to key challenges for distancing and exit work that dist[ex] faces. These include, among others:
How can cooperation at professional interfaces - for example in child and youth welfare, healthcare, security authorities, science, research and politics - be improved and expanded? The dist[ex] network is continuously working on this question - with the aim of developing viable and practical solutions.
Over the last few decades, a highly qualified and specialised prevention landscape has developed in Germany that is unique internationally. dist[ex] is committed to its further development - both in terms of specific phenomena and across the board - and to stronger networking and effective synergies in practice.
Social developments and the associated need for counselling have given rise to different approaches to working with target groups. dist[ex] promotes dialogue between these approaches - whether with a focus on radicalised individuals or their environment - and supports joint learning processes and flexible responses to new challenges.
Working methods and outlook
Together with its partners, dist[ex] develops skills, concepts and structures to specifically qualify counselling and support practice. At the centre of this is the networking of distancing and exit projects with each other and with other relevant actors.
By 2028 at the latest, a network should be established that:
structurally integrates civil society organisations on a permanent basis,
serves as a platform for exchange and innovation
and sustainably promotes interdisciplinary cooperation.
The sponsoring association
