Rethinking American Military Aid to Egypt

By: Stephanie Pillion, Columnist Photo Credit: MEMO On November 22, 2017, more than 235 were killed and 107 injured when four truck bombs exploded and militants opened fire on a Sufi mosque in Sinai, Egypt.[i] This attack is the latest example of the Egyptian government’s failed efforts to counter the threat of the Islamic State … Continue reading Rethinking American Military Aid to Egypt

Undermining the UN, Putin’s Russia Drives Regional Diplomatic Talks on Syria

By: Patrick Hoover, Columnist Photo Credit: Middle East Monitor Russia is increasingly in the diplomatic driver’s seat of the seven-year Syria conflict. Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted his Iranian and Turkish counterparts, Hassan Rouhani and Tayyip Erdogan, in Sochi between November 20 and 25 to issue a joint statement affirming their commitment to a “post-conflict” … Continue reading Undermining the UN, Putin’s Russia Drives Regional Diplomatic Talks on Syria

Tackling Homegrown Terrorism in China

By: Annie Kowalewski, Columnist Photo Credit: AFP, via BBC Introduction In 2002, China first recognized its domestic terrorist threat from ethnic Uighur extremists in the northwest Xinjiang province. Since then, “terrorism” has been considered one of the “three evils”: terrorism, extremism, and separatism. Although it is difficult to quantify exactly how many Uighur terrorist attacks … Continue reading Tackling Homegrown Terrorism in China

Marawi: Just the Beginning

By: Mei S. Lim, Columnist Photo Credit: Stars and Stripes In May this year, Islamic State (ISIS)-linked militants seized the city of Marawi on the Southern Philippines island of Mindanao. The move, coupled with ISIS’ announcement that militants should set up a wilayah, or province, in Southeast Asia, sparked fears in the region that the … Continue reading Marawi: Just the Beginning

Psychologist Discusses ‘Mutual Radicalization’ in Groups and Nation-States

By: Andrew Johnian, Reporter Photo Credit: National Communication Association At Georgetown’s Communication, Culture & Technology Center, Professor Fathali Moghaddam discussed the “mutual radicalization” of groups and nations. The topic is the basis for his forthcoming book, “Mutual Radicalization: The Psychology of How Groups and Nations Drive Each Other to Extremes.” Moghaddam’s work on radicalization was … Continue reading Psychologist Discusses ‘Mutual Radicalization’ in Groups and Nation-States

Jihad After the Caliphate

By: Andrew Swick, Columnist Photo Credit:Al-Sharq al-Awsat (via CIA release) Last month, the US-backed Syrian Defense Forces (SDF) took control of Raqqa from the Islamic State (ISIS), reducing the so-called caliphate’s territorial holdings to a diminished stretch of land on the eastern side of the Euphrates River. While American officials were cautious in their immediate … Continue reading Jihad After the Caliphate

Richard Spencer and White Ethno-Nationalism’s Domestic Terrorism Threat

By: Sara Sirota, Columnist Photo Credit: Newsweek Until this year, many of us have had the privilege of assuming violent white ethno-nationalist groups spout hateful ideologies but lack the organization and appeal to pose a real threat. Charlottesville’s “Unite the Right” rally in August and Richard Spencer’s appearance at the University of Florida shattered that … Continue reading Richard Spencer and White Ethno-Nationalism’s Domestic Terrorism Threat

The Implications of France’s New Anti-Terror Law

By: Alicia Chavy, Columnist Photo Credit: CNBC On October 31, France ended its two-year-long state of emergency, and passed a controversial anti-terror law allowing some of the emergency measures to remain in place. For instance, the new law permanently allows French authorities to conduct home searches and place suspected terrorists under house arrest with limited … Continue reading The Implications of France’s New Anti-Terror Law

Faculty Interview Series: An Interview with Dr. Gary Shiffman, SSP Adjunct Professor

By: Donnie Hill, Reporter Photo Credit: Giant Oak Dr. Gary Shiffman is the founder and CEO of Giant Oak, a technology firm that specializes in blending social science with big data environments to identify illicit actions, actors, and networks. His past positions include managing director at the Chertoff Group, senior vice president and general manager … Continue reading Faculty Interview Series: An Interview with Dr. Gary Shiffman, SSP Adjunct Professor

American Amnesia: Counterterror Strategy in Sub-Saharan Africa

By: Evan Cooper, Columnist Photo Credit: The Nation Prior to the disclosure that four United States special forces members had been killed in Niger, there was almost no discussion of the United States’ military presence in sub-Saharan Africa. Since the news broke, it has become clear that American policymakers continue to see the use of … Continue reading American Amnesia: Counterterror Strategy in Sub-Saharan Africa