Bekämpning av extremism i demokratins försvar : En kritisk diskursanalys om framställningen av våldsbejakande extremism i socialarbetares utbildningsmaterial

Sammanfattning: The aim of this study was to examine social workers educational material about violent extremism. This included investigating how violent extremism and risk behaviors are produced and how they can be interpreted by social workers. In many ways extremism and democracy can be regarded as contradictory to each other. Therefore an important part of the preventive work aims to protect the democracy against external threats and supporting the democratization of future citizens. However, there is a problematic delimitation and a risk of distinguishing extremism from peaceful activism. A risk that allows innocent individuals to be suspected as well as their constitutional rights are jeopardized. A critical discourse analysis was carried out, as defined by Norman Fairclough. The results showed a disproportionate focus on the various extremist environments with portrayal of the white power environment and Islamist extremism as more violent and dangerous than the autonomous environment. Further results showed a general uncertainty in the material of what signals the risk of extremism and when a professional should act or remain passive. Finally the analysis confirmed the previously identified security policy discourse. The discourse clarifies the increased responsibility of street-level bureaucrats and professionals to monitor control and report on suspicion of radicalization. An intervention associated with the risk of being counterproductive in relation to democracy and human faith in both authorities and the democratic order.