The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), through its Commission on Countering Violent Extremism (CVE), recently called for a comprehensive strategy to combat the growing threat of violent extremism against the United States and abroad.
The commission, chaired by former CIA Director Leon Panetta and former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Tony Blair, said that violent extremism, inspired by twisted interpretations of Islam, constitutes an acute and growing global threat with profound implications for global security, societal cohesion and international values.
CSIS issued a series of recommendations through a detailed report that includes strengthening resistance to extremist ideologies. It also called for investing in community-led prevention and aligning policies and values to put human rights at the center of CVE.
The international community also needs to deploy military and law enforcement tools in a strategic way to dislodge terrorist groups. The report also recommended that the next administration establish a new institutional structure, headed by a White House assistant to the president, to oversee all CVE efforts.
In addition, the U.S. government should demonstrate its commitment to tackling violent extremism by pledging $1 billion annually to CVE efforts globally, the report said.
The commission drew its conclusions after holding hearings in Washington, New York City and Silicon Valley and consulted with more than 100 experts throughout the world. Those consultations were augmented by extensive research and surveys conducted in China, Egypt, France, India, Indonesia, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.
CSIS is a bipartisan, nonprofit policy research organization dedicated to providing strategic insights and policy solutions to help decision-makers across the world.