Today's Edition
HAMAD AL HOSANI*
On September 16, TRENDS will host the Fifth Annual Forum on Political Islam in Abu Dhabi under the theme “Shared Patterns of Violence: Contemporary Approaches to Ideologically Driven Extremism.” More than an academic gathering, this forum is a strategic milestone aimed at deepening understanding of extremist ideologies that have transcended traditional classifications, revealing how violence has evolved into a common language for diverse religious and political movements.
Experience has shown that extremist groups converge on similar patterns of violence fueled by exclusionary impulses and ideological delusions. Despite having differing slogans, they share violence both as a means and an end. These groups, including most notably the Muslim Brotherhood, represent the clearest example of how ideology, when turned into a political project of domination and exclusion, evolves into a breeding ground for radical organisations that reproduce violent narratives across generations.
Confronting this challenge requires new tools that move beyond conventional critiques of extremist rhetoric toward building rigorous scientific mechanisms to track influence and analyse its reach. To this end, the forum will launch an interactive map of the Muslim Brotherhood International Power Index, alongside a broad measure of the group’s activity on social media. These tools do more than provide metrics; they reshape our understanding of influence dynamics, particularly in the digital sphere, now the main battleground of ideological conflict.
A cornerstone of countering extremism lies in engaging youth and equipping them with the intellectual and practical skills to resist violent narratives. TRENDS places particular emphasis on the role of younger generations in its research and knowledge-building mission. At the fifth forum, young members of TRENDS, alongside the TRENDS Youth Council, will play an active role in shaping new perspectives and approaches. Youth are the demographic group most vulnerable to extremist discourse in digital spaces, but also the most capable of generating innovative ideas if given the opportunity. Their presence sends a clear message: investing in youth awareness and critical capacity is an investment in a safer, more peaceful future. Combating extremism cannot be won through security measures alone; it requires building a generation capable of making conscious choices between narratives of violence and those of dialogue and coexistence.
The larger question remains: is dismantling hate speech enough, or does the real challenge lie in deconstructing the ideological illusions that allow these groups to convince new generations of their cause? Mere critique of slogans falls short unless we address the intellectual and psychological structures that make violence appear acceptable.
The TRENDS Fifth Annual Forum seeks to start a global strategic dialogue that moves beyond the boundaries of traditional academic inquiry, establishing fresh approaches capable of ending the era of ideological violence. With an accompanying exhibition showcasing the centre’s latest research outputs, the message from Abu Dhabi is clear: the battle is not against any single group, but against a continuously regenerating ideological system. From Abu Dhabi, we affirm: Let us break the cycles of hatred and open pathways to coexistence and peace, where violence is defeated by the light of knowledge, and humanity prevails over illusion.
*The writer is a senior researcher at TRENDS Research & Advisory
