Bridging Wicked Problem and Violent Extremism Research: A Research Agenda for Understanding and Assessing Local Capacity to Prevent Violent Extremism

In this working paper, we argue that the conception of a wicked public policyproblem offers a useful lens on the challenges faced by local government practitionersengaged with preventing violent extremism. Wicked problems are characterized byuncertainty, complexity, and contestation as to origin, definition and policy solutions. Basedon extant wicked problem research, we propose a conceptual model of what we term “wickedproblem governance capacity” – capacity to deal with wicked problems – and a researchagenda for better understanding and assessing such policy capacity. We argue that empiricalstudies of Denmark and Norway, which have been among the frontrunners in local preventwork, offer an opportunity to refine wicked problem theory by grounding it more firmly in theexperienced reality of practitioners