Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) is a U.S. government program that provides resources to targeted communities, predominantly American Muslims, ostensibly to root out extremism before it results in violence. The program involves law enforcement agencies that partner with community leaders such as teachers, religious leaders, and health professionals to identify allegedly at-risk community members and steer them away from violence.
The program is controversial for a variety of reasons. Is the government’s theory of radicalization sound? Is the Muslim community unfairly singled out? Are targeted communities compromising their rights by assisting the government, or is this a productive partnership? Has the election of Donald Trump changed the CVE discussion?
Panel 1
Download a podcast of Panel 1
- Heidi Ellis, Ph.D., Director, Refugee Trauma and Resilience Center
- Alice LoCicero, Ph.D., President-elect, Society for the Study of Peace and Conflict (Division 48 of the American Psychological Association)
- Faiza Patel, Co-Director, Brennan Center’s Liberty and National Security Program
- Moderated by Patrick Eddington, Policy Analyst, Cato Institute
Panel 2
Download a podcast of Panel 2
- Sue Udry, Executive Director, Defending Rights and Dissent
- Muqtedar Khan, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Political Science and International Relations, University of Delaware
- Ayaan Dahir, Minneapolis Young Muslim Collective
- Moderated by Adam Bates, Policy Analyst, Cato Institute