Episode 19 - Bruce Hoffman on ISIS in 2017 and Beyond

For this episode I met with SSP’s outgoing Director, Professor Bruce Hoffman, to talk about ISIS in 2017 and beyond.

I open up the conversation by asking where ISIS stands today compared to when we last met for episode one of the podcast in April 2016. Hint: just four days after we recorded our conversation, Iraq’s prime minister declared victory over the Islamic State. But it begs the question: if ISIS can’t hold territory, where do its fighters go?

We also touch on the changing media environment - with US media focusing on the presidency and social media platforms clamping down on violent extremist messaging - and how or whether that is impacting ISIS’ propaganda campaigns.

We talk at length about al-Qaeda, where it stands as an organization, and what its aging leader Ayman al-Zawahiri is doing to ensure its survival, to include fostering a leader for the terrorist group in Hamza bin Laden.

We discuss the U.S. and Coalition's strategy in the fight against ISIS and the President’s decision to give Secretary of Defense Mattis greater autonomy.

Last but not least, we cover Professor Hoffman. I ask him to reflect on some of his most memorable moments in the program and his next steps.

The Security Studies Podcast is produced by Jeffrey Palmer. 


Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music