Cooperation Between Civil Society Organisations and Law Enforcement Agencies in Countering Right-Wing Extremism in Germany: Findings from a Multi-Method Study

• In Event: Radicalisation Into Right-Wing Extremism and Multi-Agency Approaches to Counter and Prevent it

Abstract

One of the biggest societal challenges in Germany in recent years has been the fight against right-wing extremism. As part of a project commissioned by the German Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community, we conducted a multi-method study on cooperation between civil society organisations and law enforcement agencies, focusing on the objectives, methods, possible obstacles, success factors and outcomes of cross-organisational work against extremism. This included national surveys of police authorities and public prosecutors’ offices as well as 50 in-depth interviews with German experts from the fields of law enforcement, civil society organisations, politics and academia. The findings highlight that cooperation between police and CSOs is widespread and focuses primarily on preventive measures rather than criminal prosecution. Both parties generally regarded cooperation positively, noting its benefits such as enhanced information sharing and improved access to target groups. However, the analysis also identified various challenges, including barriers to information exchange, differing professional roles and the importance of building trust. Recommendations include clarifying data protection regulations, providing support measures to manage expectations on the ground, legally establishing the right of civil society actors to refuse testimony and implementing decision-making criteria for selecting civil society partners for cooperation initiatives.

Authors

• Andreas Arnold, German Police University

• Tihomir Vrdoljak, German Police University

• Thomas Görgen, Deutsche Hochschule der Polizei/German Police University