Abstract

The UK’s Prevent policy continues to fail in its fundamental purpose to prevent extremism and has at times even created spaces for extremism to flourish. This article goes beyond the mechanism of implementation and provides a conceptual understanding of the Prevent policy and how it maintains the neoliberal status quo. Here we argue that the promotion of the neoliberal status quo, a broad de-politicization and a lack of focus on the root causes continues to undermine the Prevent policy. Any policy aimed at preventing extremism and terrorism must be well integrated into the government’s wider social policies, shifting away from securitization and towards improving society. Reducing extremism becomes a by-product of a much broader attempt at changing society, focusing on policies that address racism, gender, and socio-economic inequality. These policies, we argue, must encourage political engagement with all groups, and especially those who are marginalised. Creating a healthier democracy will reduce risks of extremism and will negate the need for a Prevent policy based on discrimination and securitization.