As ISIS loses territory, and foreign fighters seek to return home, effective deradicalization programs are more important than ever. Photo Credit: Reuters/Kieran Doherty. By: Antonia Ward, Columnist As ISIS faces the loss of the final territory it holds in Syria, there has been considerable focus on the issue of foreign fighters returning to the UK.[i] This … Continue reading Deconstructing Deradicalization: Why the UK Needs a New Approach to Assess CT and PCVE Programs
Author: Antonia Ward
ISIS’s Use of Social Media Still Poses a Threat to Stability in the Middle East and Africa
Photo Credit: Version Daily By Antonia Ward, Columnist ISIS’s strategic use of social media demonstrates the resourcefulness of the terrorist-cum-insurgent organization, which mobilized an estimated 40,000 foreign nationals from 110 countries to join the group.[i] Increasing internet access in both Africa and the Middle East means that ISIS also has a new pool of potential supporters who, … Continue reading ISIS’s Use of Social Media Still Poses a Threat to Stability in the Middle East and Africa
Why We Should Measure the Economic Impact of Terrorism in the Middle East
By: Antonia Ward, Columnist Photo credit: Kobani, Syria. Getty Images RAND Europe and the European Parliament released a report in May on the cost of terrorism in the EU. Examining far more than direct costs, such as loss of life or damage to persons and infrastructure, the study also measured the indirect psychological impact on … Continue reading Why We Should Measure the Economic Impact of Terrorism in the Middle East
Is The Threat Of Nuclear Terrorism Distracting Attention From More Realistic Threats?
By: Antonia Ward, Columnist Photo credit: BBC/sciencefocus.com At the final Nuclear Summit of his presidency in Washington D.C. in 2016, Barack Obama said the risk of ISIS or other extremist groups acquiring nuclear weapons remains “one of the greatest threats to global security.”[i] A number of terrorist groups, including ISIS and al-Qaeda, have expressed explicit intentions to … Continue reading Is The Threat Of Nuclear Terrorism Distracting Attention From More Realistic Threats?
Maintaining Europol Security Ties After Brexit
By Antonia Ward, Columnist Photo: Getty Images Brexit has dominated European politics since the announcement of Britain’s 2016 referendum to leave the European Union (EU). Security remains a crucial and complex consideration in these discussions. If Britain relinquishes its membership in Europol – the EU’s law enforcement agency which handles criminal intelligence – it … Continue reading Maintaining Europol Security Ties After Brexit
Do Terrorist Groups Really Die? A Warning
By: Antonia Ward, Columnist Photo by: Getty Images With the collapse of ISIS and loss of the majority of its territory in Syria and Iraq by the end of 2017, the world was relieved at the news of the “end” of the terrorist-cum-insurgent group.[i] This response paralleled a different, but not altogether dissimilar, celebration following … Continue reading Do Terrorist Groups Really Die? A Warning
Terrorism on Trial: The Problem of Prosecuting International Jihadists
By: Antonia Ward, Columnist Photo by: un.org In January, Syrian Kurdish fighters arrested two prominent Islamic State combatants. Their capture raised a complex question: Where should the British nationals, who were part of an infamous ISIL terrorist cell known as “The Beatles,” be tried? In an interconnected world, with an increasing number of fragile states, … Continue reading Terrorism on Trial: The Problem of Prosecuting International Jihadists
Bitcoin and the Dark Web: The New Terrorist Threat?
By: Antonia Ward, Columnist Photo by: money.cnn.com Since it first came into existence in 2009, Bitcoin has been causing controversy, confusion, and consternation in equal measure. The cryptocurrency is valued at 1 bitcoin to $14,122 USD (£10,189.53) at the time of writing (15 January 2017), and is the first decentralized digital currency of its kind, … Continue reading Bitcoin and the Dark Web: The New Terrorist Threat?
Why the Fall of the ‘Caliphate’ in Syria Will Not Ease Western Security Concerns
By: Antonia Ward, Columnist Photo Credit: SBS Australia In October, Iraqi, Syrian, and coalition forces celebrated the fall of Raqqa, one of the most important, and final, areas under ISIS control.[i] However, despite this significant loss of territory in the self-proclaimed ‘caliphate,’ ISIS has proven remarkably adaptable and resilient. ISIS could continue to present a … Continue reading Why the Fall of the ‘Caliphate’ in Syria Will Not Ease Western Security Concerns
Faculty Interview Series: An Interview with Professor Elizabeth Grimm Arsenault, SSP Director of Teaching
By: Antonia Ward, Reporter Photo Credit: Rick Sincere Professor Elizabeth Grimm Arsenault is Assistant Professor of Teaching for the Security Studies Program, having previously taught at the College of William & Mary. She has worked in the intelligence and defense sectors of the US government, and is an expert in terrorism, intelligence, international law, and … Continue reading Faculty Interview Series: An Interview with Professor Elizabeth Grimm Arsenault, SSP Director of Teaching