Commentaries

 

Our editorials about radicalization and extremism regularly appear in publications around the country, educating and resonating with policymakers, law enforcement officials, and the general public.

Understanding Accelerationist Narratives: The Boogaloo
Authored by Matt Kriner, Alex Newhouse, and Jon Lewis
GNET
November 18, 2021

The Taliban Haven’t Changed, But U.S. Policy Must
Authored by Haroro J. Ingram, Andrew Mines, and Omar Mohammed
Lawfare
October 31, 2021

Afghanistan and American Jihadists: More Inspiration, Less Destination
Authored by Bennett Clifford and Seamus Hughes
Lawfare
October 27, 2021

The Taliban Can't Take on the Islamic State Alone
Authored by Amira Jadoon and Andrew Mines
War on the Rocks
October 14, 2021

The Myth of Moderate Jihadis
Authored by Lorenzo Vidino
FP
September 22, 2021

The evolving Taliban-ISK rivalry
Authored by Amira Jadoon, Andrew Mines, and Abdul Sayed
The Lowy Institute 
September 7, 2021

History’s rhymes in the fall of Kabul and Mosul: Flawed ideas, broken promises, and poisonous spin
Authored by Haroro J. Ingram and Omar Mohammed
ICCT
September 2, 2021

What is ISIS-K? Two terrorism experts on the group behind the deadly Kabul airport attack and its rivalry with the Taliban
Authored by Amira Jadoon and Andrew Mines
The Conversation
August 26, 2021

For some Capitol Hill rioters, Jan. 6 was just the beginning
Authored by Madi Birkenfeld, Ilana Krill and Andrew Mines
Dallas Morning News
July 26, 2021

Pride & Prejudice: The Violent Evolution of the Proud Boys
Authored by Matthew Kriner and Jon Lewis
CTC Sentinel
July 2021

A Sea Change in Counterterrorism
Authored by Carly Gordenstein and Seamus Hughes
Lawfare
June 13, 2021

American counterterrorism cannot be an either/or proposition
Authored by Lorenzo Vidino and Seamus Hughes
The Hill
May 25, 2021

An Assessment of the U.S. Government’s Domestic Terrorism Assessment
Authored by Seamus Hughes and Rohini Kurup
Lawfare
May 24, 2021

The Islamic State Is in Congo. What Now?
Authored by Haroro J. Ingram and Lorenzo Vidino
Lawfare
May 16, 2021

“I will never forget this for as long as I live”: Social Learning at the Capitol Hill Siege
Authored by Danielle Carrier, Ilana Krill and Andrew Mines
GNET
May 6, 2021

Male Supremacism, Borderline Content, and Gaps in Existing Moderation Efforts
Authored by Ye Bin Won and Jon Lewis
GNET
April 6, 2021

Selfie and Siege: Women’s Social Media Footprint and the US Capitol Hill Siege
Authored by Devorah Margolin and Chelsea Daymon
GNET
March 3, 2021

The U.S. government can do more to fight domestic terror without any new laws
Authored by Seamus Hughes and Bennett Clifford
The Washington Post
March 2, 2021

The Evolution of the Boogaloo Movement
Authored by Matthew Kriner and Jon Lewis
CTC Sentinel
February 2021

"Take Nothing But Pictures, Leave Nothing But (Digital) Footprints”: Social Media Evidence From the US Capitol Siege Perpetrators
Authored by Jon Lewis and Bennett Clifford
GNET
January 25, 2021

The Capitol mob’s gleeful selfies are easy to mock. They’re also a warning sign.
Authored by Seamus Hughes and Jon Lewis
The Washington Post
January 19, 2021

3D-Printed Guns, Untraceable Firearms, and Domestic Violent Extremist Actors
Authored by Jon Lewis
GNET
January 7, 2021

Why the FBI had to pretend Hamas wanted to plot with ‘boogaloo boys’
Authored by Seamus Hughes and Jon Lewis
The Washington Post
September 9, 2020

How the Coronavirus Is Affecting American Jihadist Travelers
Authored by Andrew Mines
Lawfare
August 31, 2020

Spring Provides Timely Reminder of Incel Violence—And Clarifies How to Respond
Authored by Jon Lewis and Jacob Ware
ICCT
August 28, 2020

Cryptocurrency and the Dismantling of Terrorism Financing Campaigns
Authored by Andrew Mines and Devorah Margolin
Lawfare
August 26, 2020

Facebook’s Disruption of the Boogaloo Network
Authored by Jon Lewis
GNET
August 3, 2020

Rethinking Domestic Terrorism Law After Boogaloo Movement Attacks
Authored by Jon Lewis
Lawfare
July 27, 2020

Revamping American "Soft Power": The Case for Centralizing America's Messages to the World
Authored by Haroro J. Ingram and Alexander Guittard
Foreign Policy Research Institute
July 20, 2020

Europe Frets, America Yawns: The Trans-Atlantic Gap on Domestic Islamism
Authored by Lorenzo Vidino
Hudson Institute
July 16, 2020

#Hamas: Using Twitter to Gain Legitimacy or Incite Violence? 
Authored by Devorah Margolin
GNET
July 6, 2020

#Hamas: A Thematic Exploration of Hamas’s English-Language Twitter 
Authored by Devorah Margolin
Terrorism and Political Violence
June 23, 2020

Pandemic Propaganda and the Global Democracy Crisis
Authored by Haroro J. Ingram
War on the Rocks
May 18, 2020

Can the Islamic State's Afghan Province Survive Its Leadership Losses?
Authored by Andrew Mines and Amira Jadoon
Lawfare
May 17, 2020

5G and the Far Right: How Extremists Capitalise on Coronavirus Conspiracies
Authored by Alexander Meleagrou-Hitchens and Blyth Crawford
GNET
April 21, 2020

The State Department Should Designate the Russian Imperial Movement as a Foreign Terrorist Organization
Authored by Jon Lewis and Mary McCord
Lawfare
April 14, 2020

Telegram’s Cryptocurrency Could Have a Terrorism Problem
Authored by Andrew Mines
Just Security
March 5, 2020

Our laws have a problem calling domestic terrorism what it is
Authored by Jon Lewis and Seamus Hughes
The Hill
February 6, 2020

Lessons from the Islamic State’s ‘Milestone’ Texts and Speeches
Authored by Haroro J. Ingram, Craig Whiteside, and Charlie Winter
CTC Sentinel
January 2020

Caliph Abu Unknown: Succession and the Legitimacy in the Islamic State
Authored by Haroro Ingram and Craig Whiteside
War on the Rocks
November 25, 2019

The Fractured Terrorism Threat to America
Authored by Seamus Hughes and Devorah Margolin
Lawfare
November 10, 2019

In Syria, the Women and Children of ISIS Have Been Forgotten
Authored by Devorah Margolin, Joana Cook, and Charlie Winter
Foreign Policy
October 26, 2019

Islamic State Affiliate Seeks to Expand in Afghanistan
Authored by Andrew Mines and Amira Jadoon
Lawfare
October 23, 2019

When Pain is Thicker Than Blood: Surviving Scourge and Purifying the Ranks
Authored by Asaad Almohammad and Jon Lewis
Foreign Policy Research Institute
September 26, 2019

How to act against domestic terrorists — and their foreign supporters
Authored by Haroro Ingram and Jon Lewis
The Hill
September 15, 2019

Taking Aim: Islamic State Khorasan's Leadership Losses
Authored by Amira Jadoon and Andrew Mines
CTC Sentinel
September 2019

It’s Not Only Iraq and Syria
Authored by Seamus Hughes and Jon Lewis
Lawfare
August 23, 2019

A Review of Transatlantic Best Practices for Countering Radicalisation in Prisons and Terrorist Recidivism
Authored by Lorenzo Vidino and Bennett Clifford
Europol
July 13, 2019

De-Platforming and the Online Extremist’s Dilemma
Authored by Bennett Clifford and Helen Christy Powell
Lawfare
June 6, 2019

From Battlefront to Cyberspace: Demystifying the Islamic State's Propaganda Machine
Authored by Asaad Almohammad and Charlie Winter
Combating Terrorism Center at West Point
June 5, 2019

The Guerrilla ‘Caliph’: Speeches that Bookend the Islamic State’s ‘Caliphate’ Era
Authored by Haroro J. Ingram, Craig Whiteside, and Charlie Winter
CTC Sentinel
May 29, 2019

Erdogan’s Long Arm in Europe
Authored by Lorenzo Vidino
Foreign Policy
May 7, 2019

Doxing and Defacements: Examining the Islamic State’s Hacking Capabilities
Authored by Audrey Alexander and Bennett Clifford
CTC Sentinel
April 26, 2019

Destination Jihad: Italy’s Foreign Fighters
Authored by Francesco Marone and Lorenzo Vidino
ICCT
March 19, 2019

Jihadist ‘Responsibility to Protect’ Appeals: Propaganda Wars for the Moral High Ground
Authored by Haroro J. Ingram
ICCT
March 14, 2019

A Practical Guide to the First Rule of CTCVE
Authored by Alastair G. Reed and Haroro J. Ingram
ICCT
March 18, 2019

Trump’s Domestic Countering Violent Extremism Policies Look a Lot Like Obama’s
Authored by Seamus Hughes and Haroro J. Ingram
Lawfare
March 10, 2019

Do Great Nations Fight Endless Wars? Against the Islamic State, They Might
Authored by Haroro J. Ingram and Craig Whiteside
War on the Rocks
February 25, 2019

Sixteen-Year-Old American Islamic State Fighter Reportedly Captured in Syria
Authored by Seamus Hughes and Bennett Clifford
Lawfare
January 9, 2019

The Story of an American Islamic State Member Allegedly Captured in Syria
Authored by Seamus Hughes and Alexander Meleagrou-Hitchens
Lawfare
January 6, 2019

Strasbourg shooting: Why known extremists can carry out terror attacks
Authored by Lorenzo Vidino
BBC News
December 15, 2018

United States v. Aws Mohammed Younis al-Jayab: A Case Study on Transnational Prosecutions of Jihadi Foreign Fighter Networks
Authored by Seamus Hughes and Bennett Clifford
CTC Sentinel
December 14, 2018

Confronting America’s Violent Extremists: A Terrorism Prevention Strategy for the Homeland
Authored by Haroro J. Ingram
Foreign Policy Research Institute
November 26, 2018

Rethinking “Prison Radicalisation” – Lessons from the U.S. Federal Correctional System
Authored by Bennett Clifford
ICCT
November 16, 2018

The Caliph's Role in the (un)Surprising Resilience of the Islamic State
Authored by Haroro J. Ingram and Craig Whiteside
Foreign Policy Research Institute
October 25, 2018

Treatment of Terrorists: How Does Gender Affect Justice?
Authored by Audrey Alexander
CTC Sentinel
September 10, 2018

Prosecuting the Islamic State Fighters Left Behind
Authored by Jenna Consigli
Lawfare
August 1, 2018

A Brief Update on Ethnic Georgian Foreign Fighters in the Islamic State
Authored by Bennett Clifford
Jihadology
July 31, 2018 

The Cup and the Caliphate: Russia’s Counterterrorism Operations Before Major Sporting Events and the Global Jihadist Movement
Authored by Bennett Clifford
Lawfare
June 22, 2018

America's Terrorism Problem Doesn’t End with Prison—It Might Just Begin There
Authored by Lorenzo Vidino and Seamus Hughes
Lawfare
June 17, 2018

“That is what the terrorists want”: Media as amplifier or disrupter of violent extremist propaganda
Authored by Haroro J. Ingram
ICCT 
May 22, 2018

Gray Media Under the Black and White Banner
Authored by Audrey Alexander and Helen Christy Powell 
Lawfare
May 6, 2018

“Trucks, Knives, Bombs, Whatever:” Exploring Pro-Islamic State Instructional Material on Telegram
Authored by Bennett Clifford
CTC Sentinel
May 2018

Whose Responsibility is it to Confront Terrorism Online?
Authored by Seamus Hughes
Lawfare
April 27, 2018

Reverse-Engineering The ISIS Playbook, Part II: CT-CVE Messaging Lessons From ISIS's English-Language Magazines
Authored by Haroro J. Ingram and Alastair Reed
Vox Pol
April 18, 2018

Reverse-Engineering The ISIS Playbook, Part I: CT-CVE Messaging Lessons From ISIS's English-Language Magazines
Authored by Haroro J. Ingram and Alastair Reed
Vox Pol
April 13, 2018

Hyperlinked Sympathizers: URLs and the Islamic State
Authored by Samantha Weirman and Audrey Alexander
Studies in Conflict & Terrorism
March 26, 2018

The Only Islamic State-Funded Plot in the U.S.: The Curious Case of Mohamed Elshinawy
Authored by Seamus Hughes
Lawfare
March 7, 2018

Terror Online And Off: Recent Trends in Islamic State Propaganda Operations
Authored by Charlie Winter and Haroro J. Ingram
War on the Rocks
March 2, 2018

Marginalizing Violent Extremism Online
Authored by Audrey Alexander and William Braniff
The Atlantic
January 21, 2018

A New American Leader Rises in ISIS
Authored by Seamus Hughes and Bennett Clifford
The Atlantic
January 13, 2018

First He Became an American—Then He Joined ISIS
Authored by Seamus Hughes, Alexander Meleagrou-Hitchens, and Bennett Clifford
The Atlantic
May 25, 2017

How to fight ISIS online
Authored by Audrey Alexander
Foreign Affairs
April 7, 2017

The Threat to the United States from the Islamic State’s Virtual Entrepreneurs
Authored by Seamus Hughes and Alexander Meleagrou-Hitchens
CTC Sentinel
March 9, 2017

The Muslim Brotherhood: Terrorists or Not?
Authored by Mokhtar Awad and Samuel Tadros
The Wall Street Journal
March 1, 2017

Why the United States Should Be as Circumspect as the British about the Muslim Brotherhood
Authored by Lorenzo Vidino
Lawfare
February 12, 2017

Islamic State is successfully radicalizing Americans. How do we stop them?
Authored by Seamus Hughes
LA Times
May 18, 2016

The Islamic State's Pyramid Scheme: Egyptian Expansion and the Giza Governorate Cell
Authored by Mokhtar Awad
CTC Sentinel
April 2016

Egypt's New Radicalism: The Muslim Brotherhood and Jihad
Authored by Mokhtar Awad
Foreign Affairs
February 4, 2016

Material Support or Bust
Authored by Seamus Hughes
The Brookings Institute 
August 31, 2015

Fax Machine Radicalization: A Menace
Authored by Seamus Hughes
War on the Rocks
July 23, 2015

How to stop ISIS from recruiting American teens
Authored by Lorenzo Vidino and Seamus Hughes
Washington Post
June 17, 2015

Explaining the Lack of an American Domestic Counter-radicalization Strategy
Authored by Lorenzo Vidino
Understanding Deradicalization: Pathways to Enhance Transatlantic Common Perceptions and Practices, Middle East Institute
June 10, 2015

Sharia4: From Confrontational Activism to Militancy
Authored by Lorenzo Vidino
Perspectives on Terrorism, Terrorism Research Initiative
April 2015