Talking Terror

In today's 'special' episode the tables have been turned. John Morrison has left the host's chair, replaced by Andrew Silke, and for one episode only is the guest on the show. In this interview John discusses how his early interest in sports psychology still influences him today, his research on splits in Irish Republicanism, and his current focus on the role of trust is the psychology of terrorism. In the discussion he discusses how the works of John Horgan, Albert Hirschman and others have influenced his way of thinking about terrorist organisations and the psychology of terrorism as a whole.

The publications which influenced John were:

John Horgan (2002). The Psychology of Terrorism (First edition)

David McKittrick and Eamon Mallie (2001). Endgame in Ireland

Albert O. HIrschman (1970). Exit, Voice and Loyalty

John's own research which he focuses on are:

The Origins and Rise of Dissident Irish Republicanism (2013)

Trust in Me: Allegiance Choices in a Post-Split Terrorist Movement (2016)

The Trustworthy Terrorist (2017)

In this week's episode John speaks to Prof. Jorge Lasmar of PUC Minas Brazil. In their chat they discuss a range of issues including counter-terrorism in Brazil, the global war on terror, and the influence which a G.K. Chesterton novel had on his career.

Due to technical issues during the first recording this episode includes part which was recorded in person, and another part over Skype. Therefore there is a change in sound quality about half way through. However, we are sure that this won't detract from a really interesting chat.

In this episode Jorge discusses the following texts which influenced him:

Walter Reich (1990). Origins of terrorism: Psychologies, ideologies, theologies, states of mind.

Gilbert Guillame (1976). Terrorisme international

Thomas Schelling (1981) The strategy of conflict

G. K. Chesterton (2010) The man who was Thursday

He also discussed the following pieces of his own research:

Managing great powers in the post-Cold War world: old rules new game? The case of the global war on terror. (2012)

The global war on terror, jus ad bellum, and normative change in international law. (2011)

When the shoe doesn't fit: Brazilian approaches to terrorism and counter-terrorism in the post 9/11 era. (Fortcoming 2017)

Passaporte para o terror. Os voluntários do Estado Islâmico.With Guilherme Damasceno Fonesca (2017) (In Portugese).

In this week's episode John talks to Dr. Emily Corner from University College London. In their chat they discuss Emily's research on the psychology of terrorism, and the role which mental health may or may not play in terrorist involvement. As always the discussion is based around research which has influenced Emily's career, and her own key research. The pieces discussed in this episode are:

Some research that has influenced Emily's career

Paul Gill, John Horgan, and Paige Deckert (2014) Bombing alone: Tracing the motivations and antecedent behaviors of lone‐actor terrorists

John Monahan et al (2001). Rethinking Risk Assessment: The Macarthur Study of Mental Disorder and Violence

Jeff Victoroff (2005) The mind of the terrorist: A review and critique of psychological approaches

Some of Emily's key research

A false dichotomy? Mental illness and lone-actor terrorism. With Paul Gill (2015)

Mental health disorders and the terrorist: A research note probing selection effects and disorder prevalence. With Paul Gill and Oliver Mason (2016)

There and back again: The study of mental disorder and terrorist involvement. With Paul Gill (2017)

This week John speaks to Prof. Max Taylor, a visiting professor at the Department of Security and Crime Sciences at University College London and the co-editor of Terrorism and Political Violence.Prior to his move to UCL he was the Director of the Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence at the University of St. Andrews, before which he was the head of the Department of Applied Psychology at University College Cork. For most of our listeners Max would be most widely known as a prolific and thought provoking specialist on the psychology of terrorism. However, his background also includes ground-breaking research on capacity building for disadvantaged children living in conflict zones, and the combatting of paedophile information networks in Europe. Within the realm of terrorism studies Max has published on a wide range of topics from evolutionary psychology to affordance, Irish Republicanism to Islamic fundamentalism. He is also the author of some of the most influential books on the psychology of terrorism, notably amongst them are The Terrorist, Terrorist Lives and The Fanatics.

Research discussed in the podcast as influencing Max's career:

B.F. Skinner (1951). Science and Human Behaviour

Richard S. Peters (1958). The Concept of Motivation

Derek B. Cornish and Ronald V. Clarke (1986). The Reasoning Criminal: Rational Choice Perspectives on Offending

Max's key research, discussed in the podcast:

Rational choice, behaviour analysis and political violence (1992)

A conceptual framework for addressing psychological process in the development of the terrorist. With John Horgan (2006)

Is terrorism a group phenomenon? (2010)

In this week's episode John talks to Dr. Rashmi Singh of PUC Minas, Brazil. Their conversation covers the influence of history and archaeology on Rashmi's career, her analysis of terrorism in the Middle East, and the history of terrorism in India.

Be sure to read all of the research referred to by visiting fuel.ac.uk/TERC/Talking-Terror and to follow us on Twitter @TERCUEL and tweet at us using #TalkingTerror

In this week's episode John talks to Javier Argomaniz of the Handa Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence (CSTPV) at the University of East London. Javier discusses the role of the EU in counter-terrorism, the role of deterrence and backlash in relation to countering ETA, and the role which victims can and do play in the development and dissemination of counter-narratives.

As always if you want to read more in depth about any research referred to in today's pod be sure to visit our website uel.ac.uk/TERC/Talking-Terror and to keep in touch follow us on Twitter @TERCUEL and tweet at us using #TalkingTerror

In this week's episode John talks to Prof. Erica Chenoweth of the University of Denver. In this interview Erica discusses a range of topics relating to her research and her influences. Included within this is a fascinating discussion of how Zlata's Diary had a huge influence on her career.

Erica's career has focused on analysing political violence and its alternatives, and this is reflected in her discussion with John.

As always if you want to see any of the research discussed in the show be sure to check out the Talking Terror webpage www.uel.ac.uk/Talking_Terror and to follow us on Twitter @TERCUEL and tweet at us using #TalkingTerror

In this week's episode John chats to Dr. Bart Schuurman of Leiden University and the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism. This episode covers a range of issues including the evaluation of Dutch re-integration programmes, the role of public support in terrorism and counter-terrorism, and the individual rationales for involvement in Dutch jihadist groups.

For all of the most up to date information be sure to follow us on Twitter @TERCUEL and tweet at us with #TalkingTerror

In this special episode of Talking Terror John sits down and talks to Anthony Richards and Andrew Silke. In the wake of the October 1st mass shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada the three discuss two core issues.

1) Should this attack be classified as terrorism?

2) If ISIS may not be the perpetrators why would they claim responsibility?

As always for more information follow us on Twitter @TERCUEL and tweet at us using #TalkingTerror. Also be sure to check out our website www.el.ac.yj/TERC/Talking-Terror

In this episode John speaks to Dr. Sarah Marsden, a lecturer in radicalisation and protest in a digital age at Lancaster University. The chat covers a variety of topics, but focuses primarily on Sarah's research on reintegration of terrorist offenders.

As always if you want to read the research discussed in this episode be sure to go to uel.ac.uk/TERC/Talking-Terror. Also for the most up to date information follow us on Twitter @TERCUEL and tweet at us with #TalkingTerror