Radicalisation Analytics in Digital Algorithmic Realms – RADAR

Radicalisation Analytics in Digital Algorithmic Realms (RADAR) is a regional project that explores early forms of online youth radicalisation on TikTok, currently the most influential platform among adolescents and young adults in the Western Balkans. Implemented in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro, the project addresses the cross-border spread of extremist narratives in a shared linguistic and interconnected digital space.

The project is led by the European Policy Centre (CEP), in partnership with Foreign Policy Initiative (FPI B&H) and the Centre for Civic Education (CCE). RADAR is supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (Italian MFA).

RADAR’s overall objective is to contribute to the prevention of extremism, violent behaviour, and democratic backsliding by strengthening youth resilience to digital radicalisation. To achieve this, the project combines two complementary research components:

1. Systematic TikTok content analysis which will include mapping the presence, formats, and algorithmic dissemination patterns of harmful narratives, and,
2. Video-elicited youth focus groups examining how young audiences perceive, emotionally process, and potentially internalise such content.

This mixed-method approach enables comparable insights across the three countries, capturing both the “supply side” and “demand side” of extremist communication.

Findings will be synthesised into three national narrative reports and a transnational policy brief, alongside practical prevention-oriented guidance for institutions and civil society. The project will also produce youth-facing outputs (e.g., infographics, podcasts, blog posts) and organise a transnational webinar, including an Italian think tank perspective, to support dialogue and uptake of recommendations.

Duration: 1 December 2025 – 30 November 2026.

Contact: Jovana Knezevic Jovanovic, Senior Project Manager, jovana.knezevic@cep.org.rs