Evaluating Measures Taken Against Right-Wing Extremism

Abstract

As part of a larger research project about right-wing extremism and its causes and countermeasures, this article assesses the quality of existing evaluation studies in Switzerland, Germany, the US and other countries in order to synthesize their results. It presents the results of a meta-evaluation of measures against right-wing extremism in areas including education and social work. The meta-evaluation follows the professional evaluation standards of the Swiss Evaluation Society (SEVAL Standards). Analysis of the quality of selected evaluation studies in the field of measures against right-wing extremism allows for an assessment of the value of their results. The meta-evaluation covers 12 evaluation reports, enabling a description of the current practice of evaluation of measures taken against right-wing extremism in selected countries. The article also presents evidence about the usefulness of the SEVAL Standards in an applied setting. Thus the article provides background information on both evaluation of measures against right-wing extremism and the applicability of evaluation standards.