Monitoring of Political Tolerance as a Tool for Early Warning on Youth Extremism

Background/Objectives: The relevance of the study is determined by the growth of international terrorism and extremism. To prevent (warn of) extremism among young people is a vital task. In this context, this article focuses on the search for new methods for early warning of extremism in the youth environment. Methods: The study offers a new approach to prevent the spread of extremism among the youth. Unlike foreign approaches emphasizing complicated statistical methods for analysis of the committed crimes of an extremist nature, the authors propose a method of early diagnosis and prevention of extremism manifestations among young people. In contrast to statistics and sociological surveys monitoring allows accurately tracking the real social processes and coordinate the work of state and social institutions in combating extremism. Findings: A hypothesis has been formulated concerning of the relationship between political intolerance and extremist mindsets. To achieve the objectives of the study and verify the hypothesis empirical indicators have been identified which reflect the structure of the social attitude and the time history of students’ values and attitudes has been traced. As a result of the study the levels of political tolerance/intolerance have been identified, a comparative analysis of political tolerance indices has been carried out in specific social subgroups of students and intolerant behavior risk groups have been revealed that are associated with socio-demographic characteristics of students. The authors have proposed a method of political tolerance/intolerance monitoring as a tool for early warning of extremism dissemination in the youth environment. Novelty/Application: The article findings are of practical value for national regulatory and administrative authorities, the police in terms of improving the work with risk groups and preventing the spread of extremism among the youth.