Work Package 4 examines the Influence and Spread of Extremist Narrative and is led by Rasma Pipike and consortium partner The Creative Ideas Association. A graduate of Social Sciences, with a focus on journalism and public relations, Rasma also holds an MBA, where she specialised in innovation and entrepreneurship with a focus on managing organisations and enterprises. Currently, Rasma is studying at the Riga Technical University, as a doctoral student. Her thesis is interlinked with the concept of diversity management and firm performance.
Rasma firmly believed that her business studies would enhance her ability to carry out humanitarian actions, which require even more intricate and precise planning compared to private business ventures. This is because humanitarian actions involve external resources, necessitating a higher level of transparency when investing those resources most effectively. Concerning human resource management and knowledge, Rasma holds the opinion that well-trained and supported human resources are the key to the effectiveness and success of any organisation. Rasma’s professional involvement in civil society organisations has played a vital role in developing exceptional communication skills with a keen sensitivity towards multicultural, religious, racial, sexual, and other sensitive issues. Over the past 20 years, Rasma has dedicated her career to working in civil society organisations and the non-profit sector, with 15 of those years spent in CEO positions. These roles have demanded the ability to lead in complex situations, while also functioning as part of a team and resolving conflicts among multiple parties. Through her work, Rasma has honed her analytical skills, as well as her expertise in public relations, diplomacy, and negotiation. She has successfully built trust among various stakeholders, simultaneously fostering and establishing numerous cooperation platforms with the Latvian Government, Parliament, and civil society. Importantly, Rasma has always maintained her independence as an advocate for the public good.
The Creative Ideas Association was established in 2011 in Balvi (North-East Latvia) and concentrates on culture, integration, civic society rural development. Implementation of the goals and values of the European Union so that people live in peace, create social ties, cooperate and increase their well-being. Since its foundation, more than 35 projects have been implemented, 2/3 of them with foreign partners. The Creative Ideas Association is an inclusive organisation. The team is led by Sanita Putnina, who is a fantastic project writer, leader and administrative support for the Latvian team.
With regard to WP4, Rasma believes that understanding the psychological drivers of extremism in European citizens is crucial for effective intervention. By assessing factors such as mutual respect marginalisation, and vulnerability to manipulation, we can better identify individuals at risk and tailor preventative measures accordingly.
The ARENAS project aims to understand why some people become extreme in their beliefs and how it affects society. Rasma explains, “We are looking at what people say on social media to see if it’s linked to extreme views offline. There is a plan to conduct experiments in social media. We will also be checking how regular political parties react to extreme ideas. We will observe if they have become more extreme over the years and if their leaders are using extreme language or trying to stop it. We focus on countries like France, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, and Latvia. As a output, we will be creating instruments to help prevent the bad effects of extreme ideas. We plan to create tools for specific groups- civil society, business sector and youth.”
Reflecting on her first year of working on ARENAS, Rasma describes it as an incredible journey. What’s remarkable is how we’ve succeeded in creating a working pattern that fits us like a glove. In our team, everyone is a leader when it comes to their specific tasks, and this dynamic creates a safety net of sorts, where we can rely on each other’s expertise and support.
One of the most refreshing aspects of our collaboration is our commitment to democratic and open working methods. Every voice is heard, and every opinion matters. It’s inspiring to see how much dedication and passion each team member brings to the table. Rasma says, “As a diversity management expert, my perspective on the process in the project is particularly intriguing. It’s exciting to witness how complete strangers evolve into a cohesive team. We come from different backgrounds, hold varying perspectives, and make decisions in unique ways. This wide spectrum of experiences is the cornerstone of our strength. Observing how all these diverse elements blend together is where the “magic” truly happens. My interest also extends to gaining a deeper understanding of the academic world. Being a “good person” transcends any specific field or discipline. This belief underscores the fundamental truth that in every corner of the world, regardless of the context, people are people and they have a very basic need -to be heard. Science is not some distant planet, rather, it is inhabited by individuals who share the same human qualities and values found in any other aspect of life.
