The Global Extremism Papers – Inaugural Issue (2026) presents a set of studies that reflect the Program on Extremism’s commitment to rigorous, evidence-driven, and policy-relevant research on terrorism and violent extremism. This inaugural edition emerged from our international call for papers, The State of Terrorism Across the Globe, which received several hundred submissions from researchers, practitioners, and analysts worldwide. The volume and quality of these submissions demonstrate the continued growth and methodological maturity of the field of extremism studies.
The selection process for this first issue was both rewarding and exacting. With limited space available, decisions were guided by thematic coherence and editorial balance rather than by concerns about the quality of the submitted work. Many strong manuscripts could not be included in this edition, and their omission should not be interpreted as an assessment of merit. We encourage contributors to remain engaged with future calls and to continue advancing research that strengthens this evolving body of knowledge.
The studies featured here illuminate several recurring patterns. Authors examine how extremist actors, from ISIS networks in Afghanistan and Iraq to far-right groups in Europe and the United States, are leveraging new technologies, moving into emerging digital environments, and reorganizing into more adaptive and decentralized structures. Other contributions assess the implications of artificial intelligence, the risks associated with ungoverned digital expansion, and the growing presence of private-sector security actors assuming roles once held primarily by states. Collectively, these papers signal the need for updated analytical frameworks and more integrated policy responses to address the multidimensional nature of contemporary extremist threats.
The contributors explore understudied digital ecosystems, apply comparative and data-analytic designs, and revisit foundational concepts, such as lone-actor violence and extremist identity formation, through the lens of current technological and sociopolitical dynamics. Taken together, these approaches help clarify both the persistent structural drivers of extremism and the emerging conditions that are likely to influence future trajectories of mobilization.