Exchange to Change Sept 2017 20170911 E2C zomer web | Page 15

IN THE PICTURE
15
Desk study in Italy with Carlotta
Research topic
Identifying the main factors which lead to violent extremism in
developing countries.
Motivation
• The Global Terrorism Index points to a drastic rise in the number
of deaths due to violent extremism and terrorism in 2014 (IEP,
2015).
• Many actors interested in understanding the drivers of violent
extremism but available data and empirical stu dies are limited to
violent extremism which represents a threat for the West.
• This study seeks to help close this gap through an analysis of the
main causes of violent extremism in developing countries.
Methodology
The analysis is based on desk research of secondary sources such
as scientific literature and reports published by the UN, USAID,
Global Terrorism Index report... The study employs the Political
Economic Analysis (PEA) approach to understand the underlying
‘push’ and ‘pull’ factors associated with violent extremism in
developing countries.
Outline of your typical day or of a very interesting atypical day
in the field
Working as project manager in the development sector has kept
me far from my country for many years. The dissertation period
was therefore a timely opportunity to go back to Italy and spend
some time with my family. Below is a typical day of this two-
month period.
07:30 I wake up. After many days abroad, it is nice to wake
up in my own bed at my parents’ place.
08:00 Tea time (Yes! I am an atypical non-coffee-loving
Italian :-) ) and Italian breakfast with my parents:
bread, jam, fruit and yoghurt and tea.
08:30 I start working on my dissertation I have to deal with
some comments from my supervisor. Still a long way
to go….
10:00 10:00 already... I must work faster. The summer is
very hot here (up to 40 degrees!) and it becomes very
difficult to focus after 12:00.
12:30
14:00
I help my mum to prepare lunch. Meals are important
family moments: we spend time together, share news
and information and discuss about politics or the
socio-economic situation in Italy and in the world.
Today, I want to hear their thoughts about what can
motivate a person to embrace a violent extremist
cause.
I take a break (an hour in general) and give attention to
my reading of the moment: “Il ritorno” (“The Return”)
by Hisham Matar. I try to read a book each week,
preferably historical novels.
15:00 Call of duty: back to my dissertation. Afternoons are
generally devoted either to reading new articles or to
revising what I'd written in the morning.
20:00 Well-deserved fun: Going out with my friends to enjoy
summer events in Bologna: concerts, open air art
cinema, exhibitions, guided tours by actors...
E xchange to change S eptember 2017