Professor Peter Neumann, director of the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation (ICSR), has been appointed Special Representative on combating radicalisation to the Office of the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE).
OSCE Chairman and Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz announced Professor Neumann’s appointment today.
OSCE is the world’s largest regional security organization working towards global stability, peace and democracy and comprises 57 participating states across three continents. OSCE said the appointment was part of its renewed efforts ‘to address the alarming phenomenon of growing radicalisation and violent extremism, especially among young people.’
‘More than 10,000 people from the OSCE area served as foreign terrorist fighters. They not only create inconceivable suffering, but are also a massive threat to our internal security when they return,’ said Minister Kurz.
He has identified fighting radicalisation as one of the top priorities of Austria’s OSCE chairmanship.
‘We must enhance our common efforts in identifying and addressing root causes and triggers for the seduction and radicalisation of young people. And we must empower our youth to address this phenomenon in our societies.
‘Professor Neumann has led research projects and written influential policy reports about online radicalisation, foreign fighter networks, terrorist defectors, prison-based de-radicalisation programs and terrorist recruitment in Europe. This insightful knowledge will enrich our engagement in the OSCE framework. We are very pleased to have him as our advisor to take on this challenging task’, added Minister Kurz.
Professor Neumann said, ‘I’m delighted to be appointed Special Representative on fighting radicalisation. This will be a great opportunity to inform policy-making with empirical research.’
Peter Neumann is Professor of Security Studies at the Department of War Studies at King’s College London, and has directed ICSR since its foundation in 2008.
He has testified before a full session of the UN Security Council, as well as committees of the US House of Representatives, the UK House of Commons, the German Bundestag, the Canadian House of Commons, and the European Parliament.
Professor Neumann’s latest book in English is Radicalized: New Jihadists and the Threat against the West (IB Tauris, 2016). Prior to this, Neumann authored or co-authored five other books, including Old and New Terrorism (Polity Press, 2009) and The Strategy of Terrorism (with MLR Smith) (Routledge, 2008).