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City Spotlight: Berlin, Germany

Berlin, the capital of Germany, stands as a prominent nexus of political activity within the country. The city’s governance structure is characterised by a dual system of executive and legislative powers, embodied in the Senate and the House of Representatives, respectively. The Senate of Berlin, akin to a cabinet at the federal level, is headed by a Lord Mayor, who, along with senators, oversees various senate departments critical to the city’s administration and public welfare. The Governing Mayor serves as both the City’s and the State’s premier.

Berlin joined the Strong Cities Network in 2017 and sits on its International Steering Committee (ISC). In June 2023, Berlin co-hosted a Transatlantic Dialogue workshop on the potential of mayors and local governments in safeguarding democracy and social cohesion amidst a dynamic extremist threat landscape, and its officials have participated in a number of in-person and virtual Strong Cities activities as well. In addition, as a further demonstration of its commitment to the Network and its mission. Berlin signed the The Hague Mayoral Declaration on Preventing Hate, Extremism and Polarisation, and Safeguarding Local Democracy and the New York City Mayoral Declaration, that outline a series of practical steps and commitments by mayors and cities to address these threats while promoting human rights

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What is the local government concerned about?

Berlin is concerned about a range of extremist threats. Since 2014, multiple Islamist-inspired attacks have been carried out across Germany, including in Berlin. The most fatal Islamist attack in Germany occurred in 2016, targeting a Berlin Christmas market. In the same period, a large number of people left or were planning to leave to join the Islamic State or other terrorist groups in Iraq and Syria. The Islamist terrorist threat landscape became increasingly complex and aspects such as the phenomenon of home-grown terrorism, lone actors’ improvised attacks and online radicalisation became a major challenge.

Far-right extremism also remains a persistent threat in Berlin. City officials report that over one thousand individuals are actively spreading antisemitic and racist propaganda, often exploiting geopolitical events to incite hatred and violence. Well-organised local groups carry out arson, vandalism and threats against activists, politicians and those supporting refugees to instil fear and silence dissent. Beyond physical attacks, these individuals and groups are working to influence politics and social institutions, holding meetings to discuss mass deportations and other radical actions. Their efforts to undermine democratic institutions pose a serious, long-term threat to social cohesion and democratic values. According to Berlin officials, the most concerning group is Der III. Weg (The Third Path), known for its aggressive recruitment, public demonstrations and targeted campaigns.

Antisemitic incidents in Berlin have risen sharply in recent years, particularly following the 7 October 2023 attack in Israel and the Israeli government’s response. In 2023, the City recorded 1,270 antisemitic incidents, nearly a 50% increase from the previous year. This spike included an increase in violent assaults, vandalism and online abuse against the Jewish community. Simultaneously, hateful incidents targeting Muslims also significantly increased in Germany across the same period.

How is the local government responding?

Amid global crises and growing polarisation in Germany, Berlin has seen how extremist ideologies can appeal to marginalised youth seeking belonging, security, identity and perspective. It understands that, without effective intervention and other meaningful support, young people risk falling into black-and-white thinking, rigid worldviews and violent behaviour.

As part of its sustained commitment to safeguard its free and open society and ensure the safety of its residents, Berlin has implemented a range of measures to prevent and respond to hate, extremism and polarisation in all of its forms. This included strengthening partnerships with civil society and promoting preventative approaches through dedicated programmes in communities across the city.

DeRadNet: Berlin’s Multi-Actor Deradicalisation Network

A key initiative led by Berlin’s Senate Department for the Interior and Sport is the Deradicalisation Network (DeRadNet), launched in 2015 in response to the growing threat posed by ISIS, Al-Qaida and other Islamist terrorist groups. DeRadNet functions as a central coordination hub, enhancing public safety through structured information-sharing and collaboration across sectors.

The network brings together a diverse group of stakeholders, including security agencies (police, the General Prosecutor’s Office and the intelligence service) alongside civil society organisations (CSOs) engaged in deradicalisation work. Monthly meetings provide a platform for members to exchange information, share updates on individual cases and align on broader trends. While DeRadNet 3collaboration, each member retains full autonomy and remains responsible for their own operational decisions, whether in policing, prosecution or counselling methodologies. The network’s role is not to direct actions, but to support and strengthen coordination through the sharing of experience and insight.

By bringing different actors into regular dialogue, DeRadNet helps ensure that both authorities and CSOs make more informed and sustainable decisions. A dedicated office within the Senate Department serves as the coordinator of DeRadNet’s activities. It acts as an impartial contact point, helping to bridge diverse perspectives and promote a shared, case-based approach.

DeRadNet highlights the value of multi-actor approaches in tackling complex cases with tailored, context-sensitive solutions. A foundational principle is equality among members: both law enforcement and CSOs can introduce new cases or request meetings, and all decisions are made by consensus.

Experience from DeRadNet also underscores the challenges and necessity of balancing security needs with civil society perspectives. According to Berlin officials, four key factors have been critical to its effectiveness:

Trust-building, especially between stakeholders who may not traditionally collaborate;

A neutral coordinator, who also serves as the main point of contact;

Clearly defined roles and responsibilities, with established boundaries from the outset;

Transparent procedures and guidelines, ensuring timely and coordinated action.

Berlin Coordination Office for the Prevention of Religious Extremism

The Berlin Coordination Office for the Prevention of Religious Extremism plays a central role in designing, directing and coordinating the City’s efforts to prevent and counter violent religious extremism. Its core function is to harmonise and coordinate the work of municipal and federal institutions involved in prevention, including the Senate Departments for the Interior and Sport, Education, Youth and Family, Justice, and Anti-Discrimination and Diversity.

A key tool in these efforts is the Berliner Landesprogramm Radikalisierungsprävention (Berlin State Programme for the Prevention of Radicalisation), which provides funding to a wide range of CSOs. These organisations work directly with at-risk youth, their families and communities, professionals in relevant sectors and individuals already on a path to radicalisation to violence.

In close collaboration with practitioners and academic experts, Berlin has identified six priority areas for preventing religious extremism:

Workshops and training for schools, youth centres, teachers and social workers.

Community-based prevention strategies tailored to local needs.

Gender-specific programming, including support for girls, women and mothers.

Online prevention efforts, recognising the influence of digital spaces.

Support for disengagement and stabilisation, including work with individuals who have been radicalised.

Continuous exchange between theory and practice, ensuring adaptive, evidence-informed responses to evolving challenges.

CSOs across Berlin bring deep experience in impact-driven, social and pedagogical work with vulnerable youth. Recognising this, Berlin allocates over €2 million per year to support civil society initiatives within the above priority areas, as it looks to pursue a comprehensive approach to addressing the challenge of religiously-motivated violent extremism.

AG REE!: Berlin’s Multi-Agency Response to Right-Wing Extremism

In response to the growing network of right-wing extremist groups and the rising number of individuals committed to violence, Berlin has significantly strengthened its efforts to combat right-wing extremism. A central instrument in this work is the AG REE! working group, established under the leadership of the Berlin Senate Department for the Interior. This multi-agency body plays a vital role by applying an operational case management approach to individuals either at risk of, or already involved in, right-wing extremist activity.

AG REE! is focused on proactively identifying early signs of right-wing radicalisation towards violence and implementing targeted, case-specific interventions to disrupt the solidification of extremist beliefs. The working group brings together representatives from state institutions and CSOs, promoting regular information exchange and coordinated, decisive action.

Through routine, case-based meetings and inter-session communications, radicalisation trajectories are systematically assessed to determine their status. Based on this analysis, members jointly decide on appropriate intervention strategies. This coordinated, flexible approach enables timely and effective responses to the evolving dynamics of radicalisation.

One growing challenge is the shifting age profile of those involved. While previously the focus was on individuals under the age of 18, the majority of individuals now fall within the young adult category (under the age of 27). This change means that traditional school-based prevention and youth work are not as relevant and new approaches are needed to reach the older cohort, many members of which also exhibit psychological vulnerabilities, further complicating engagement.

AG REE! addresses these challenges by prioritising tailored interventions, particularly for young adults with prior contact with the justice system who are searching for purpose or belonging, making them susceptible to extremist recruitment. Early-stage interventions such as community service or probation, in lieu of prison, can serve as important tools to encourage disengagement from radical ideologies by offering less stigmatising, rehabilitative alternatives. These community-based measures allow individuals to engage in pro-social activities, build constructive relationships and find meaning outside extremist networks. AG REE! works in close coordination with justice and security agencies, including police, courts and probation services, to ensure that both preventative and repressive options are considered based on each individual’s circumstances. This multi-agency approach helps identify appropriate entry points for intervention and ensures continuity of care. Where relevant, psychological assessments are integrated to inform personalised support plans that address underlying drivers such as trauma, mental health challenges or identity struggles. The initiative’s mobile counselling format allows it to reach individuals in their own environments, whether during probation, in community settings or through outreach networks, maximising opportunities for early, context-sensitive engagement and sustained behavioural change.

All proposed measures are discussed in AG REE! meetings, with participation from both judicial representatives and civil society actors. In some cases, initial access is made possible through the individual’s wider social environment — family members, peers or mentors — providing an important entry point for engagement and support

Round Table on Combatting Antisemitic Violence

Established in 2019, the Round Table on Combatting Antisemitic Violence is a key platform within the Berlin Senate’s broader strategy to tackle antisemitism. This strategy also includes the appointment of an Antisemitism Commissioner within the Berlin Police. The Round Table has become central to the City’s efforts, providing a structured space for regular dialogue among the Jewish community, civil society organisations and security experts.

Its primary goals are to facilitate open, ongoing exchange between those affected by antisemitic violence and relevant professionals, to analyse recent incidents and to jointly develop action-oriented responses. The forum also serves as a space to address criminal justice concerns, with police representatives offering essential information to support investigations and preventive measures.

The Round Table covers a wide range of security-related topics, including risk assessments, facility protection, crisis management, support for public events and personal security. In the event of a serious antisemitic incident, it is convened immediately to enable rapid communication with the Jewish community and ensure swift coordination of security responses.

Expert Commission on Anti-Muslim Racism

To address the rise in anti-Muslim hate that the city was experiencing in a comprehensive manner, Berlin established the independent Expert Commission on Anti-Muslim Racism in February 2021. Since its inaugural session, the commission has met regularly to develop policy recommendations across a wide range of fields, including internal security, anti-discrimination, justice, Muslim life in Berlin’s urban culture, education and youth.

The Commission works to build a robust theoretical framework for understanding and preventing anti-Muslim racism, while also serving as a critical observer of administrative practices. Its overarching aim is to lay the foundation for a cross-departmental action strategy that enables sustainable and inclusive responses to anti-Muslim racism across Berlin.

What’s next?

DeRadNet

Extremist ideologies are constantly evolving, creating ongoing challenges for multi-actor networks like DeRadNet. In response, the Berlin Senate Department for the Interior and Sport is actively reviewing and refining DeRadNet’s processes, with a focus on improving outreach to target groups and adapting to emerging trends.

One area of development is the integration of psychological expertise into multi-agency cooperation. Many cases benefit from this perspective, which can inform more tailored and sustainable interventions. At the same time, the continued rise of online radicalisation, particularly recruitment and mobilisation through digital platforms, demands a more proactive and tech-savvy approach. Emerging AI technologies, while presenting risks, also offer opportunities for prevention work.

Insights gained through DeRadNet are increasingly informing other areas of Berlin’s prevention landscape, including the work of the Berlin Returnee Coordinator. Although the two initiatives target different groups, their strategic cooperation highlights the value of shared learning across sectors. The Returnee Coordinator leads the City’s multi-actor response to individuals returning from conflict zones, particularly Syria and Iraq, who may have been involved with extremist groups. Working closely with security agencies, social services, and civil society actors, the Coordinator ensures individualised case management that combines risk assessment with reintegration support. This includes access to counselling, educational and vocational programmes, and psychosocial care, as well as monitoring mechanisms where necessary. However, the expansion of multi-agency approaches remains subject to legal constraints that must be carefully navigated to ensure continued effectiveness and trust among stakeholders.

Berlin Coordination Office for the Prevention of Religious Extremism

In 2025, the Berlin Coordination Office will lead a comprehensive needs assessment across the City. This initiative will engage a wide spectrum of stakeholders, from police and security services to teachers, social workers, healthcare professionals, local politicians and most crucially, young people themselves.

The goal is to identify gaps in existing programming and better understand the most pressing challenges on the ground. Building on past experience, the next phase of the City’s prevention strategy will place a stronger emphasis on community-based, peer-led programming. These efforts aim to engage at-risk youth through trusted relationships within their local environments, meeting them on equal footing and responding to their lived realities.

Further analysis and AI-supported research will also be conducted to better understand the role of platforms such as TikTok in radicalisation processes. In parallel, the Office will explore overlapping narratives across various extremist ideologies — from Islamist and right-wing extremism to anti-feminism and misogyny — recognising the growing convergence of hate-driven worldviews.

AG REE!

Violent right-wing extremism remains a rapidly evolving threat, requiring constant vigilance and adaptability. AG REE! continues to evolve in response, with regular updates to its strategies and operational measures.

Recognising the growing need for psychological insights in casework, AG REE! initiated consultations in 2024 with specialised organisations to explore their future involvement in the network. This reflects a broader commitment to expanding expertise and ensuring that intervention strategies are not only reactive but also preventive and rehabilitative.

Through close coordination between decision-makers and practitioners, AG REE! maintains a regular rhythm of evaluation, monitoring and strategic dialogue. This collaborative approach ensures that Berlin’s response to violent right-wing extremism remains timely, informed and politically responsive.

As Berlin continues to innovate in the field of preventing and countering violent extremism, it remains committed to sharing its experiences across the Strong Cities Network. In the coming year, Berlin will engage actively in Strong Cities events and exchanges, contributing insights on multi-actor coordination, rehabilitation and reintegration and the evolving dynamics of online radicalisation. Through this continued engagement, the City aims not only to learn from peers but also to help shape international good practice, strengthening the collective capacity of local governments worldwide to address hate, extremism and polarisation.

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