Asher Stern

Asher Stern is a researcher at the Program on Extremism at The George Washington University.

Prior to joining the Program on Extremism, Stern served as Project Manager and Researcher at the International Institute for Counter Terrorism, where he directed applied counterterrorism analysis focused on extremist networks, radicalization dynamics, and emerging threat ecosystems. He led structured analytical projects, developed threat assessments, mapped network relationships, and built open source monitoring frameworks used to track organizational activity and mobilization indicators. In addition to producing analytical outputs for security and policy stakeholders, he coordinated research workflows and supervised teams responsible for delivering structured intelligence products.

A central component of his work involves tracking and assessing both macro ideological narratives and micro recruitment and mobilization messaging. He examines how strategic themes are adapted for operational use across different platforms, communities, and audience segments, identifying early-stage narrative shifts that signal movement from rhetoric to organization and action.

Previously, Stern served as Head of Operations at the International Legal Forum, where he managed international initiatives addressing extremist networks and terror financing concerns. He directed cross-border stakeholder coordination, structured reporting pipelines, oversaw program management, and supported strategic engagement in diplomatic and multilateral arenas.

Earlier in his career, Stern focused on campus-based public diplomacy programming focused on narrative development, security awareness, and organizational coordination, overseeing curriculum design, volunteer leadership, and strategic messaging efforts.

His writing on extremism, ideological movements, and security affairs has appeared in outlets including The Hill, New York Daily News, City Journal, The Jerusalem Post, JNS, The Times of Israel, and Israel Hayom. He has also contributed to and edited a volume examining contemporary political movements.

Stern holds an MA in International Relations from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a BA in Government, Strategy, and Diplomacy from Reichman University.

Publications