Terrorism and Political Violence (MSc)

Please note: This specialisation was formerly known as Governance of radicalism, extremism and terrorism. 

Louise Harder Larsen

Alumna Governance of radicalism, extremism and terrorism

"Terrorism is a complex phenomenon that is constantly changing and posing new threats towards society. I chose the specialisation Governance of Radicalism, Extremism and Terrorism, because I wanted to gain a better understanding of why these concepts are so multifaceted, and how they apply under different circumstances and orientations, such as right-wing and jihadist terrorism.

One of my favorite aspects of this programme is analysing and transforming that knowledge into diverse assignments that target both academic and professional audiences, giving us a wide range of possibilities for future employment. It is a highly interesting course that helps develop critical thinking, and ultimately, the ability to propose viable solutions to complex societal issues.

What does this master's programme entail?

The Terrorism and Political Violence (TPV) specialisation offers an in-depth understanding of the causes and consequences of extremism, terrorism, and political violence more broadly. You will learn about progress and pitfalls in research on these subjects, equipping you to move research forward as well as develop academically-informed policy recommendations. You will also come to understand the characteristics and psychological underpinnings of extremist thinking and how such worldviews inspire a range of violent and non-violent societal problems, ranging from polarising conspiracy theories to deadly terrorist attacks. Additionally, the specialisation focuses on the strategies that societies can employ to combat and prevent terrorism and extremism-inspired behaviour in general. Finally, you will combine theory and practical insights to gain a thorough understanding of when and why people ‘radicalise’, why some of them will become involved in terrorist attacks, and how ‘deradicalisation’ and ‘disengagement’ programs can be deployed to prevent such outcomes.

Alongside subject matter expertise, the TPV specialisation emphasises the development of analytical skills that prepare you for careers in security research, intelligence analysis, risk assessment, policing, governance, and policy development. Students will gain the ability to critically review the state-of-the-art on terrorism and other security threats, analyse complex security challenges, reconstruct real-world cases to propose better future responses, use data-driven methodologies (both qualitative and quantitative), and propose academically-informed policy solutions. The TPV track also sharpens your ability to challenge assumptions about the nature and scope of terrorism and other forms of political violence, as well as the effectiveness of proposed countermeasures. These skills are essential for analytical work and, just as importantly, crucial to becoming a well-informed citizen on pressing and often controversial issues.

In this track you will

• Understand and address the challenges of terrorism, extremist thinking, and political violence more broadly;
• Study via research-led teaching by internationally renowned scholars;
• Follow courses that offer an exciting mix of lectures, in-class assingments and group work;
• Be trained in advanced academic and professional skills;
• Be familiarised with dynamic subject matter and content that reflects new and emerging threats in society;
• Get fascinating guest lectures representing potential future employers. 

The Terorrism and Political Violence specialisation has a history of strong employability. Whether you're interested in the causes of terrorism or the practical responses to it, whether you envision a career in the security domain – prevention, investigation, analysis, response, or policy-making – or in research, the TPV specialisation prepares you to tackle one of the most complex challenges of our time.

>> Check the admission requirements