RadicalizationGW Program on Extremism expands research, expertise

Since its launch in June 2015, the George Washington University’s Program on Extremism has contributed research and analysis on violent and non-violent extremism. GW notes the program’s report ISIS in America: From Retweets to Raqqa has been used by policymakers and law enforcement as a trusted source. The program’s staffers have frequently testified before Congress and are regularly cited by media outlets.

Now in its second year, program leadership says they will continue to grow as a leading resource of expertise and research on extremism by expanding with new initiatives and hires. George Washington Today spoke with Program on Extremism director Lorenzo Vidino about what the public can expect from the program in the coming year.

Q: It’s been a little over a year since the Program on Extremism was launched. Has the program met expectations?
A:We’ve exceeded expectations. We’ve managed to become one of the go-to places for policymakers and the media when it comes to domestic extremism. Our reports are distributed throughout the counterterrorism community, and our scholarly yet policy-relevant approach has helped us make connections and continue growing.

Q: Tell us about some of the research and projects that the program has initiated.
A:We have a few ongoing projects. One of our main ones includes talking to as many individuals as possible who have been convicted for terrorism-related activities since 9/11. We have noted that there is no program in the United States for rehabilitating radicalized people, unlike other Western countries. We’re meeting with radicals and former radicals to get their stories and understand the process and the triggers. We are also studying de-radicalization in general and following the patterns of ISIS sympathizers in America.