Terrorism and Political Violence (MSc)
About the programme
In the Master's programme Crisis and Security Management, specialisation Terrorism and Political Violence, we focus on the academic body of knowledge on different form of protests, contention, resistance and violence. We explore and explain the emergence of radical and extremist movement.
Terrorism, and the extremist thinking that motivates it, count among the most pressing security challenges of the 21st century. Until recently, jihadist groups like al-Qaeda and the so-called Islamic State were the primary terrorist threats. Now, the potential for such violence is found among a broader extremist threat landscape. One that includes right-wing and anti-government extremism, which thrives on conspiracy theories, and is increasingly focused not just on terrorism, but also on non-violent means to increase polarisation and destabilise democratic societies.
Further complicating matters, Europe and the broader West are now facing state-directed political violence. Threats in this category include sabotage to critical infrastructure, influence operations intended to undermine our democracies, and even terrorism. Meanwhile, the long-standing threat posed by jihadist groups persists, evidenced by their role in destabilising regions across Africa and Southeast Asia. Taken together, these developments underline the extent to which terrorism, extremism and political violence represent a global challenge to peace and prosperity. Understanding and dealing these threats will remain a priority for years to come.
Four specialisation courses
- Researching Terrorism
- Extremist Thinking
- Analysing Counterterrorism
- Pathways into and out of Terrorism
Read more on the e-study guide.