German Institute on Radicalization
and De-radicalization Studies

English articles, podcasts and video streams

How Germany’s Extreme Right Seized on the Martial Arts Scene

(September 17, 2023, The New York Times, by Catie Edmondson)

Accused Pelosi attacker’s history shows blurry lines of radicalization

(The Washington Post, by Hannah Allam and Souad Mekhennet, October 31, 2022)

How inoculating Americans against radicalization can fight domestic terrorism

(PBS News Hour, by Zachary Green, June 27, 2021)

Biden Steps Up Federal Efforts to Combat Domestic Extremism

(The New York Times, by Zolan Kanno-Youngs and Nicole Hong, April 4, 2021)

“Why white nationalist terrorism is a global threat”

(March 21, 2019, Matt Steinglass, The Economist)

The Christchurch killer acted alone but followed a terrifying trend. Read this article online.

“Teenage Terrorists Aren’t Lost Forever”

(February 28, 2019, by Nabeelah Jaffer, Foreign Policy)

Even ISIS recruits can be reintegrated into society, if the approach is right. Read this article online.

“Christopher Hasson, Coast Guard Officer, Plotted Attacks at His Desk, Filings Say”

(February 21, 2019, by Dave Philipps, The New York Times)

“Daniel Koehler, the director of the German Institute in Radicalization and De-Radicalization Studies in Berlin, said in a telephone interview that Lieutenant Hasson “more or less fits perfectly in what we would expect” about someone who would plot such an attack.” Read this article online.

“Want to Deradicalize Terrorists? Treat Them Like Everyone Else.”

(November 23, 2018, by Elena Souris and Spandana Singh, Foreign Policy)

Many counter-extremism efforts falter because ideological reform programs run by governments lack credibility. Appealing to the basic psychological needs of ex-radicals is more promising. Read the article featuring GIRDS’ work here.

“What Doomsday Cults Can Teach Us About ISIS Today”

(November 5, 2017, by Clyde Haberman, The New York Times)

Our pioneering work around deradicalization was featured in The New York Times.

“How a Shadowy Imam Evaded Scrutiny and Forged the Barcelona Cell”

(August 23, 2017, by Alisson Rubin, Patrick Kingsley and Palko Karasz, The New York Times).

GIRDS Director Daniel Koehler was asked to provide an assessment of IS recruiter strategies as a background for the article How a Shadowy Imam Evaded Scrutiny and Forged the Barcelona Cell

“What Should Europe Do With the Children of ISIS?”

(July 24, 2017, by Charlotte McDonald-Gibson, The New York Times)

GIRDS Director Daniel Koehler’s work with minor ISIS socialized children was featured in The New York Times. Read the article What Should Europe Do With the Children of ISIS?

“Trust me with your life”

(TEDX Talk by our Director Daniel Koehler in Frankfurt, November 29, 2016)

“Terror Convicts Pose Dilemma After Release From Prison”

(February 15, 2016, by Nicole Hong, The Wall Street Journal)

GIRDS Director Daniel Koehler was interviewed by Wall Street Journal’s Nicole Hong about the possibilities to introduce deradicalization programs in the United States. Read the article here (paywall).

GIRDS Director Daniel Koehler speaks at Brookings

(November 9, 2015, Washington D.C.)

During a public event hosted by Brookings in Washington D.C. on “Countering violent extremism through early interventions” GIRDS Director Daniel Koehler was honored to speak about deradicalization. Learn more about the event here and watch the debate on C-Span.

ISIS in America: how doomsday Muslim cult is turning kids against parents”

(September 28, 2015, by Warren Richey, The Christian Science Monitor)

Interviewed by Warren Richey for the Christian Science Monitor GIRDS Director Daniel Koehler explained how deradicalization can be a from of psychological warfare against violent radicalization. Read the full article here.

“Mothers of Isis recruits find healing and resolve through support Network”

(June 18, 2015, by Raya Jalabi, The Guardian)

Guardian’s Raya Jalabi spoke with GIRDS Fellow Christianne Boudreau about our Mothers for Life Network. Read the full story here.

“A global fight to fortify democracy and security after deadly French attacks”

(January 9, 2015, by Mark MacKinnon and Joanna Slater, The Globe and Mail)

After the attacks in Paris GIRDS Director Daniel Koehler was asked about the value of family counselling for counter-terrorism. Read the full story here.

“Reversing radicalization through anti-terror ‘psychological warfare’”

(December 8, 2014, by Joanna Slater, The Globe and Mail)

During an in-depth interview for The Globe and Mail Daniel Koehler explains the psychology of radicalization and de-radicalization and family counselling. Read more.

“He ‘Wanted to Be Important’: How One Westerner Spiraled Toward Jihad”

(November 14, 2014, by Carlo Angerer, NBC Europe)

GIRDS Director Daniel Koehler spoke with NBC’s Carlo Angerer about the role of Western foreign fighters. Read the full article here.

“Can ‘Deradicalization’ Stem Flow of European Jihadists?”

(September 28, 2014, by Margaret Coker and Matthew Dalton, Wall Street Journal)

How can de-radicalization programs prevent persons from going to Syria or Iraq to fight? Daniel Koehler explaines effects and methods for Wall Street Journal. Read more.

“German program triggers international deradicalization network”

(September 3, 2014, by Klaus Jansen, Deutsche Welle)

Family counselling ‘made in Germany’. Developed by Daniel Koehler the method inspired numerous similar programs around the globe. Read more.

“Crackdown on British jihadis to include ‘deradicalising’ scheme from Germany”

(August 27, 2014, by Philip Oltermann, The Guardian)

For the Guardian Daniel Koehler explained which elements of German de-radcialization programs could be of value for Great Britain. Read more.

“Syria: Can UK learn from deradicalisation scheme?”

(August, 9, 2014, by Chris Vallance, BBC Radio 4 PM)

For BBC Radio 4 GIRDS Director Daniel Koehler talked about German de-radicalization programs and the possibility to transfer some experiences to the United Kingdom. Listen to the podcast here .

“How a German group keeps youths from becoming jihadis”

(July 28, 2014, by Sara Miller Llana, The Christian Science Monitor)

How does family counselling and de-radicalizaiton work loke like in practice? Daniel Koehler gave a detailed account based on his personal experiences for the Christian Science Monitor. Read more.

“‘Come home to rehab’ offer for British jihadists”

(July 13, 2014, by Richard Kerbaj, The London Sunday Times)

For the London Sunday Times Daniel Koehler talked about how family counselling programs could be implemented in the United Kingdom. Read more here.

“Europe takes rehab approach to Islamic extremists”

(July 7, 2014, by Frank Jordans and Kirsten Grieshaber, Associated Press – Huffington Post)

GIRDS Director Daniel Koehler spoke about the German Hayat program, which helps families to prevent their relatives from leaving to Syria or to convince them to return. Read the full story here

“Heil Hipster: The Young Neo-Nazis Trying to Put a Stylish Face on Hate”

(June 23, 2014, by Thomas Rogers, The Rolling Stone Magazine)

Rolling Stone Magazine’s Thomas Rogers wrote about a new aesthetical development within the German Far Right: neo-Nazi Hipsters. He talked to GIRDS Director Daniel Koehler about aesthetics within the extreme right in Germany. Read the full story here

“German program that reaches out to young men caught up in radicalism could be template for Canada”

(April 4, 2014, by Stewart Bell, Canadian National Post)

GIRDS Director Daniel Koehler was interviewed by National Post’s Stewart Bell about the value of family counselling programs for de-radicalization efforts. Read the full article here.

“Neo-Nazis in Germany Use Music to Attract Young Followers”

(November 6, 2013, by Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson, National Public Radio)

Soraya Nelson from National Public Radio interviewed Daniel Koehler, about the role of music in the right-wing scene in Germany. Listen to the story here.

“Neo-Nazi Dropouts. Germany’s efforts to rehabilitate right-wing extremists”

(May 25, 2013, by Elizabeth Braw)

For Newsweek Elizabeth Braw interviewed Daniel Koehler about German programs to de-radicalize and disengage right-wing extremists. Read more.

“Combating Neo-Nazi Terror – Is Enough Being Done?”

Daniel Koehler was invited to talk with Brent Goff on October 30, 2012 about the discovery of the German Neo-Nazi terror cell “National Socialist Underground (NSU)” in 2011 and what has changed regarding combating right-wing extremism in Germany since. Watch the full episode here.

“With A Database, Germany Tracks Rise Of Neo-Nazis”

(October 11, 2012, by Sylvia Poggioli, National Public Radio)

Listen to the podcast of that report, to which Daniel Koehler, the Director of GIRDS contributed here.