(New York, N.Y.) – Public awareness of the extent and danger posed by violent extremism has increased. However, defining the phenomenon as distinct from terrorism, and precisely measuring its direct and indirect harm to people, institutions, and places has been challenging.

In the German language report Die Kosten des Extremismus (Costs of Extremism), the Counter Extremism Project (CEP), in partnership with the Brandenburg Institute for Society and Security (BIGS), tackles the complex task of defining violent extremism and evaluating its impact on society. Notably, the report establishes the first of its kind economic model and mathematical formula for calculating the true costs of violent extremist and terrorist incidents.

Using case study evidence from left-wing violent demonstrations in Berlin on May 1, right-wing anti-immigration protests in Chemnitz in 2018, and ISIS-inspired terror attacks in Bavaria, the report models the subtle and complex impacts that violent extremism and terrorism can have on crime, tourism, and immigration. The analysis provides new insights into how societal behavior and decision-making is influenced far beyond that of the direct targets and victims. The report therefore is a significant contribution to the policy debate on counter-extremism measures, tackling the issue from an economic rather than a purely security-related perspective.

To explore the German language report, Die Kosten des Extremismus (Costs of Extremism), please click here.