Dr Sarah Marsden

Dr Sarah Marsden is Director of the Handa Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in the School of International Relations at the University of St Andrews.

Sarah’s research focuses on mobilisation and radicalisation to violence, and efforts to prevent and counter violent extremism. She has published over 50 articles, reports and books in this area, including her monograph ‘Reintegrating Extremists: Deradicalisation and Desistance’ (Palgrave, 2017), and has acted in an advisory capacity to a wide range of policymakers and practitioners internationally and nationally.

Her current research focuses on terrorism risk assessment and case management; the dynamics between mainstream protest and extremist mobilisations; the role of trauma and adversity in violent extremism; interventions to prevent young people becoming involved in terrorism; and efforts to evaluate violence prevention initiatives.