EXIT – Germany
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Germany
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Name
EXIT – Germany |
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Target audience
Right-wing extremists who want to leave the movement and start a new life |
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Organisation
Society Democratic Culture |
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Objectives
Disengage and deradicalise right-wing extremists, offering them different forms of help |
Description
The initiative EXIT-Germany was founded in 2000 by the criminologist and former police detective Bernd Wagner and former neo-Nazi leader Ingo Hasselbach (RAN, 2018). Being the first non-governmental (NGO) to start such an endeavour in Germany, it constitutes one of the most experienced and successful programmes in deradicalisation and exit assistance in the world.
EXIT-Germany is an initiative assisting individuals who want to leave the extreme right-wing movement and start a new life. Although originally designed for application in the community, EXIT-Germany has also been applied in a prison context.
This programme aims to disengage but also deradicalise individuals, so Exit means more to them than just simply leaving a party or a group. An Exit is successful after the basic ideologies and purposes of the previous actions were resolved.
EXIT-Germany aims at offering right-wing extremists different forms of help:
In order to really ’exit’ this scene, dropouts have to cut all connections to their former group and a successful challenge of the old ideology has to take place. EXIT-Germany also organises discussion rounds for inmates with a right-wing extremist orientation on their respective world views.
This programme works with case managers who help dropouts going through the process of starting a new life. The duration of this process varies and depends on each individual, yet, on average it takes about two to three years. Every case is specifically tailored to the individual, but follows the general guidelines of the following model: 1) making the decision; 2) leaving the scene; 3) restructuring; and 4) family counselling.
In addition, this programme is based on the idea that training of prison staff increases the sensibility, awareness and self-reflection regarding political extremism. Thus, EXIT-Germany offers training for prison staff and shares significant knowledge on how to deal with right-wing extremism in concrete practice. EXIT Germany also provides counselling to families affected by right-wing extremism and analyses critical situations, being also available to talk with teachers, policemen, institutions, individuals and anyone who needs advice.
Regarding the implementation, this programme works as follows:
The initiative EXIT-Germany was founded in 2000 by the criminologist and former police detective Bernd Wagner and former neo-Nazi leader Ingo Hasselbach (RAN, 2018). Being the first non-governmental (NGO) to start such an endeavour in Germany, it constitutes one of the most experienced and successful programmes in deradicalisation and exit assistance in the world.
EXIT-Germany is an initiative assisting individuals who want to leave the extreme right-wing movement and start a new life. Although originally designed for application in the community, EXIT-Germany has also been applied in a prison context.
This programme aims to disengage but also deradicalise individuals, so Exit means more to them than just simply leaving a party or a group. An Exit is successful after the basic ideologies and purposes of the previous actions were resolved.
EXIT-Germany aims at offering right-wing extremists different forms of help:
- Show an alternative world view and outlook on life, by providing new perspectives on right-wing extremist movements and ideologies;
- Promote critical reflections, by addressing societal questions;
- Provide security and safety to the dropout (e.g., moving nationally/internationally, changing identity or receiving police protection), especially as most of the clients come from long term involvement and high positions within the hierarchy.
In order to really ’exit’ this scene, dropouts have to cut all connections to their former group and a successful challenge of the old ideology has to take place. EXIT-Germany also organises discussion rounds for inmates with a right-wing extremist orientation on their respective world views.
This programme works with case managers who help dropouts going through the process of starting a new life. The duration of this process varies and depends on each individual, yet, on average it takes about two to three years. Every case is specifically tailored to the individual, but follows the general guidelines of the following model: 1) making the decision; 2) leaving the scene; 3) restructuring; and 4) family counselling.
In addition, this programme is based on the idea that training of prison staff increases the sensibility, awareness and self-reflection regarding political extremism. Thus, EXIT-Germany offers training for prison staff and shares significant knowledge on how to deal with right-wing extremism in concrete practice. EXIT Germany also provides counselling to families affected by right-wing extremism and analyses critical situations, being also available to talk with teachers, policemen, institutions, individuals and anyone who needs advice.
Regarding the implementation, this programme works as follows:
- In prisons (as in the community), the initiative for a contact needs to come from inmates themselves when they are considering dropping out. This first contact is often not made via phone but rather through letters. There is also the possibility that the initial communication with EXIT is channelled through a social worker or tutor;
- After the inmate made the first step, the individual will receive a letter with important questions about the respective past in the right-wing extremist scene and what motivates him or her to distance themselves from it;