Search: “Terrorists”

There is an interesting debate going on with respect to the relationship between radicalisation and violent extremism.  The current model, and the one I believe is accurate for the most part, is that radicalisation precedes violent extremism.  In other words, an individual who engages with terrorist groups or carries out crimes that we can qualify […]

The questions surrounding how many Muslims support terrorism and hence represent a threat to Western societies never seem to end.  It seems that this is an obsession with us.  This is not that surprising when “politicians” like Donald Trump tell the world that “Muslims hate us”.  Not just the terrorists – all Muslims, which is […]

It continues to surprise – and frustrate – me why the term “self-radicalised” continues to be used in mainstream media, by leading politicians and bureaucrats, and even in academic settings.  The term suggests a few things but mainly that people are capable of developing into violent extremists merely through exposure to violent material, usually in […]

There is no question that we are not getting the “war on terrorism” right.  We have come up with a slapdash set of policies, actions, programmes, theories, conferences, seminars, self-styled expertise, real expertise, etc.  In other words, a real mess.  This is not to say that there have not been some outstanding successes at a […]

I have often said that we here in Canada are living in a post-religious society.  This is not to imply that religion does not exist here or that faith is not very important to many Canadians, but rather that it does not have the profile it once did and does not appear to have a […]

(I just realised that the title of this blog could be seen as offensive.  Please believe that I am not equating those that build bridges and improve our way of life with those who wantonly slaughter innocent people in the name of ideology.  The two have nothing in common.  Or do they?) Building on my […]

The answer to the question in the title of this blog should be a no-brainer.  We want research to help us come up with ways to stop (or prevent) terrorism.  Who would quibble with that? Well, things are not as simple as they seem according to an article in the New York Times.  In the […]

In the wake of the horrendous attacks in Brussels this week, there has been a cascade of stories, op-ed pieces and analyses of the event, ranging from why Belgian security services did not prevent it to whether more are on their way.  Political scientist, sociologists and even a few former spies have weighed in, and […]

If there is one theatre of war tactic that remains controversial – aside from the inevitable divisions of futuristic killer robots I keep reading about – it is the use of drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles as the military prefers to call them.  Relentless, tireless, brimming with state of the art gadgetry, these flying platforms […]

I am fascinated by polls and the science of polling.  Yes, some firms have taken a hit for what turned out to be inaccurate predictions (especially when it comes to election results), but we do not have a better way at present to gauge the pulse of the public on any given issue.  It is […]