Ep 184: From Fringe to Mainstream - Unraveling Modern Extremism with Julia Ebner

The International Risk Podcast

In this episode of the International Risk Podcast, host Dominic Bowen speaks with Julia Ebner, a senior research fellow at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue and leader of the Violent Extremism Lab at the University of Oxford. As one of the foremost experts in extremism and radicalisation, Julia shares insights from her decade-long research, including her remarkable undercover investigations into various extremist groups.
The conversation explores the alarming trend of extremist ideologies moving from the fringes into mainstream politics and culture, as detailed in Julia's 2023 book "Going Mainstream: How Extremists Are Taking Over." She discusses how the global polycrisis - from COVID-19 to economic uncertainties and ongoing conflicts - has created fertile ground for extremist recruitment and radicalisation.
Julia provides fascinating insights into the psychology of extremism, particularly the concept of "identity fusion" and the symbiotic relationship between different extremist groups. She shares her unique perspective on researching male-dominated extremist spaces as a woman and discusses the challenges of countering online radicalisation in an era of increasing social media influence.
Drawing from recent events, including the Austrian regional elections and the Capitol riots, the discussion examines how extremist ideas are increasingly penetrating mainstream political discourse and the implications this has for democratic societies. The episode concludes with a thoughtful analysis of emerging extremist risks and potential strategies for addressing them at policy, technological, and societal levels.
Interested in exploring the topics discussed in this episode? Dive deeper into the topics explored with Julia Ebner's books referenced in the episode:

• Going Dark: The Secret Social Lives of Extremists (2020) An immersive investigation into extremist groups, based on Ebner's experiences infiltrating various radical organizations online and offline.
• The Rage: The Vicious Circle of Islamist and Far-Right Extremism (2017) A groundbreaking analysis examining the symbiotic relationship between Islamist and far-right extremism, showing how these movements feed off each other's narratives.
• Going Mainstream: How extremists are taking over (2023) From radicalisation on gaming platforms to algorithmic extremism, this book reveals how fringe movements are strategically infiltrating public discourse and reshaping modern politics.

The International Risk Podcast is a weekly podcast for senior executives, board members, and risk advisors. In these podcasts, we speak with experts in a variety of fields to explore international relations. Our host is Dominic Bowen, Head of Strategic Advisory at one of Europe's leading risk consulting firms. Dominic is a regular public and corporate event speaker, and visiting lecturer at several universities. Having spent the last 20 years successfully establishing large and complex operations in the world's highest-risk areas and conflict zones, Dominic now joins you to speak with exciting guests around the world to discuss international risk.

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