New program taking an artistic approach to counter terrorism

With funding from the Australian Government’s prestigious Australia Awards, the Deakin Business School is leading the program that has brought Bangladeshi public and private sector officials to Australia to exchange ideas, skills and expertise on how arts and culture can work as a soft strategic approach to prevent extremism and foster social harmony.

Program leader Dr Fara Azmat said the program was based on a critical need to find new approaches to prevent extremism.

“Like many other countries, Bangladesh is seeing an increase in religious extremism, particularly with socially excluded young adults who are easy targets for extremist groups,” Dr Azmat explained.

“While law enforcement agencies employ hard measures to combat terrorism, research has shown that soft approaches such as engagement with arts and culture can also play a significant role in fostering social harmony.

“Bangladesh has a rich and diverse cultural and artistic heritage, however so far the country has not used the potential of arts and culture to promote social harmony and address the problems of social exclusion amongst marginalised youths and communities.

“Thanks to the Australia Awards funding, we will provide the 15 Bangladeshi fellows with insights into how soft strategic approaches to counter terrorism through music, arts and community engagement can work alongside the hard operational counter terrorism response to prevent extremism, empower young people and provide them with a sense of belonging.”

Deakin has partnered with the Bangladesh public sector and private sectors, for the first time, to offer the program that draws on the Deakin’s expertise in arts, community resilience, counter radicalisation and extremism. The 15 fellows taking part in the program are drawn from government ministries, high schools, universities, media and NGOs. The program includes two weeks of training in Australia and follow-up activities in Bangladesh.

During the two weeks in Australia, the fellows will hear from experts and visit different arts organisations, such as Outer Urban Projects and Western Edge Youth Arts in Melbourne and Information Cultural Exchange and Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre in Sydney. The visits will provide examples of how to co-create to empower, include and engage young people and build their confidence, resilience and self-esteem.

“Through the exchange of skills and expertise among the fellows and their Australian peers our aim with this program is to co-create knowledge on how to use arts and culture to prevent extremism and engage, empower and include young people and how such activities can influence policies, educational curriculum and result in the organisation of inclusive arts events that foster social harmony,” Dr Azmat said.

Australia Awards Fellowships:
Australia Awards are prestigious international Scholarships and Fellowships funded by the Australian Government.

Australia Awards Fellowships build capacity and strengthen partnerships between Australian organisations and partner organisations in eligible developing countries in support of key development and foreign affairs priorities. By providing short-term study, research and professional development opportunities in Australia, mid-career professionals and emerging leaders can tap into Australian expertise, gaining valuable skills and knowledge.