In this session, Shannon N. Green interviews Dr. Fatima Akilu, Executive Director of the NEEM Foundation, psychologist, and partner of the Women’s Alliance for Security Leadership (WASL). Fatima discusses her role as the founder of the Nigerian government’s deradicalization program for former members of Boko Haram, the importance of psychological and social programming to provide youth with positive alternatives to violent extremism, and the nexus of development and security at the community level. Her unique perspective as a psychologist – and as a woman in a field dominated by men – provides deeper insight into the future of countering violent extremism.

Voice of a Practitioner in Nigeria – Fatima Akilu

Shannon N. Green, former director and senior fellow of the CSIS Human Rights Initiative and former managing director of CSIS’s Commission on Countering Violent Extremism (CVE), explored the violent extremism phenomenon – its causes, manifestations, and responses. In each episode, Shannon sat down with a different expert or practitioner, building a mosaic of voices and perspectives on CVE from all around the world.

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In this episode, Shannon N. Green speaks with Mark J. Penn, President and Managing Director of the Stagwell Group and member of the CSIS Commission on Countering Violent Extremism. Mark discusses the findings of CSIS's Global Perceptions of Violent Extremism Survey, which was conducted in eight key countries. During this conversation, Mark talks about how diverging perceptions of violent extremism's causes and manifestations have shaped the conversation surrounding CVE today.

Voice of Mark Penn - Global CVE Perceptions Survey

In this episode, Shannon N. Green interviews James A. Lewis, Senior Vice President and Director of CSIS's Strategic Technologies Program. Jim discusses the role of social media and the internet in violent extremists’ recruitment and radicalization efforts. Jim also shares his views on the nexus of human rights and security in the fight against violent extremism and offers unique models for stopping the spread of extremist ideologies.

Voice of a Cybersecurity and Technology Expert - James A. Lewis

For this session, Shannon N. Green interviews Jesse Morton, Research Fellow at George Washington University’s Program on Extremism, and a reformed former extremist who was once a prominent radicalizer in the West. Jesse discusses how his own path towards deradicalization informs his research into the allure and spread of violent extremism. He also shares his unique insight into the "push" and "pull" factors of radicalization, including political polarization and hate speech.

Voice of a Research Fellow and Former Extremist - Jesse Morton

In this episode, Shannon N. Green interviews Andrew Shearer, CSIS’s Senior Adviser on Asia-Pacific Security, director of CSIS's new project on alliances and American leadership, and former National Security Adviser to Prime Ministers John Howard and Tony Abbott of Australia. Andrew shares his unique perspective on American and Australian approaches to countering violent extremism, the need for comprehensive strategies to address terrorism, and the emerging challenge of returning foreign fighters.

Voice of a Former Australian National Security Adviser – Andrew Shearer

In this session, Shannon N. Green interviews Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa, clinical psychologist and creator of THE 99, a comic book series featuring Islamic superheroes who embody the 99 attributes of Allah. Through the highly-acclaimed series THE 99, Dr. Al-Mutawa endeavored to portray an alternative, more positive view of Islam. During this conversation, he discusses the importance of language, the competition for “mind space,” and his own role in the fight against violent extremism.

Voice of a Practitioner in Nigeria – Fatima Akilu

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