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The group is unique in the British think tank community. The terrorism and conflict group draws on its diverse experience and a network of experts to deliver bespoke research and advisory services.
Our team includes academics, former policy-makers, practitioners and researchers who deploy an evidence-based approach to support policy and decision-making. This multidisciplinary capability is complemented by an extensive formal and informal network of high-level contacts across the globe.
The Terrorism and Conflict Group aims to:
On counter-extremism and understanding contemporary geographies of radicalisation, RUSI runs a suite of projects in the UK and a number of global locations including Kenya, Somalia, Afghanistan, Russia, Central Asia, Lebanon and Sudan. In Kenya, our groundbreaking programme involves local mentors working with youths at risk of radicalisation, in an approach described as ‘innovative’ in a major feature by The Guardian in March 2019. In a major feature, the newspaper highlighted the programme’s unconventional approaches to persuade people away from extremism. The lessons learned from this programme have been incorporated into subsequent counter-radicalisation interventions developed by other organisations, such as the British Council. RUSI is implementing a similar EU-funded initiative in Afghanistan and the model has been taken to policymakers in other countries. In Russia and Central Asia, RUSI carried out fieldwork and works with local partners to study radicalisation amongst labour migrants in Russia, making recommendations in local languages.
RUSI’s expertise in this area was brought together in a major agenda-shaping paper that assessed the current state of global counter-radicalisation work, and was launched in New York, Brussels and London with senior level support from the UN, the EU and numerous governments. RUSI also diseminates through training of policy and development practitioners including for the European Commission.
RUSI also conducts research related to issues of gender, terrorism and conflict. In April 2019, the BBC published research from RUSI on the reasons why women turn to terrorism and rehabilitation approaches for former or returning fighters. In 2016-2017 RUSI implemented a formative five country study on gender, radicalisation and countering violent extremism.
In 2018-2019 RUSI led the Global Research Network on Terrorism and Technology as part of its growing work on terrorist online andd offline content.
Claudia Wallner
This paper examines the key limitations of youth empowerment interventions in preventing and countering violent extremism, and identifies potential solutions to overcome these.
Tags: Terrorism and Conflict, The Prevention Project, Tackling Extremism
Jessica White
The events at the US Capitol in Washington D.C. on 6 January have jolted the US national security system into action and forced an acknowledgement of the dangers posed by far-right extremism.
Tags: Terrorism and Conflict, United States, National Security
Claudia Wallner
The European Commission’s proposed plan to take down online terrorist content within an hour of publication seems limited in its effectiveness and risks ignoring other aspects of extremist activities online.
Tags: Terrorism and Conflict, Technology, Terrorism, Europe
Michael Jones
This Emerging Insights paper provides a snapshot of issues and dynamics shaping the prevention and countering of violent extremism in Kenya.
Tags: Terrorism and Conflict, The Prevention Project, Africa
Michael Jones
The unfolding conflict in Tigray could mark a dangerous inflection point for both Ethiopia and the wider region.
Tags: Terrorism and Conflict, Horn of Africa, African Union, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding, Africa
Jessica White
Throughout a year defined by the global pandemic, racial inequality movements and political polarisation, the US has been in the spotlight as the epicentre of social upheaval and amplification of far-right extremism.
Tags: Terrorism and Conflict, United States, Domestic Security, Terrorism
Jessica White
The events at the US Capitol in Washington D.C. on 6 January have jolted the US national security system into action and forced an acknowledgement of the dangers posed by far-right extremism.
Terrorism and Conflict, United States, National Security
Claudia Wallner
The European Commission’s proposed plan to take down online terrorist content within an hour of publication seems limited in its effectiveness and risks ignoring other aspects of extremist activities online.
Terrorism and Conflict, Technology, Terrorism, Europe
Jessica White
Throughout a year defined by the global pandemic, racial inequality movements and political polarisation, the US has been in the spotlight as the epicentre of social upheaval and amplification of far-right extremism.
Terrorism and Conflict, United States, Domestic Security, Terrorism
Michael Jones
Serious doubts persist about the effectiveness of media efforts to counter the narrative of violent extremism.
Terrorism and Conflict, The Prevention Project
Claudia Wallner
Could the recent upsurge in far-right extremist violence be countered by preventing or countering violent extremism education efforts aimed at teaching historical awareness or critical thinking skills?
Terrorism and Conflict, The Prevention Project, Tackling Extremism, Terrorism
Claudia Wallner
This paper examines the key limitations of youth empowerment interventions in preventing and countering violent extremism, and identifies potential solutions to overcome these.
Terrorism and Conflict, The Prevention Project, The Prevention Project, Occasional Papers, Tackling Extremism
Michael Jones
This Emerging Insights paper provides a snapshot of issues and dynamics shaping the prevention and countering of violent extremism in Kenya.
Terrorism and Conflict, The Prevention Project, The Prevention Project, Emerging Insights, Africa
Emily Winterbotham
Forming part of the Prevention Project, this paper examines the effectiveness of mentorship interventions.
Terrorism and Conflict, The Prevention Project, The Prevention Project, Occasional Papers, Tackling Extremism
This report introduces the lessons learned from the STRIVE II project, which sought to build on achievements and lessons learned during the STRIVE Horn of Africa project. The report also aims to...
Radicalisation and Countering Violent Extremism, Strengthening Resilience against Violent Extremism, Terrorism and Conflict, Tackling Extremism, Other Publications, European Union, Africa
Michael Jones
This paper assesses the effectiveness of P/CVE communications, and highlights what can work (and what does not).
Terrorism and Conflict, The Prevention Project, UK Integrated Review 2021, Occasional Papers, Tackling Extremism, Terrorism
On the 8 March, leading experts will examine the trajectories of Boko Haram’s insurgency in northern Nigeria, and discuss the challenges and limitations of existing counter-terrorism approaches.
Terrorism and Conflict
This event will present findings on the dynamics and factors contributing to the impact of reporting on terrorism, including the significance of the relationship between police and the media.
Terrorism and Conflict
The second in the webinar series from RUSI, supported by AIG and Talbot
Terrorism and Conflict
The fourth webinar in the Progressive Terrorism Studies series explored the latest research on the making of the Salafi-Jihadi visual presence online.
Terrorism and Conflict
In his first major speech as Security Minister, The Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP set out the evolving threat posed by terrorism in the UK.
Terrorism and Conflict, Terrorism
The successful and spectacular inaugural launch of SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy this week not only captured public imaginations with its ground-breaking double booster recovery and quirky payload, but also...
Tags: Aerospace, Air Power and Technology, Terrorism and Conflict, United States
RUSI Research Fellow Cathy Haenlein introduces on BBC World a new report by KPMG commissioned by RUSI investigates the scale of the illicit cigarette trade in the EU, Norway and Switzerland.
Tags: Illicit Trade, Terrorism and Conflict
RUSI experts Raffaello Pantucci and Emily Winterbotham took part in a live conversation discussing the Manchester attacks that took place in Manchester on Monday 23 May.
Tags: International Security Studies, Terrorism, Terrorism and Conflict, UK, Terrorism
RUSI Senior Research Fellow Jennifer Cole examines the implications of the alleged use of VX Nerve agent against North Korean figure Kim Jong-Nam in Malaysia.
Tags: Terrorism and Conflict, North Korea, Resilience, Pacific
The Budding Alliance Between Lockdown Critics and the Far-Right in Germany
FCAS: Is the Franco-German-Spanish Combat Air Programme Really in Trouble?
Getting the Partnership Right