Magnus Ranstorp

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Biographical Details

"Dr. Magnus Ranstorp is the Research Director of the Centre for Asymmetric Threat Studies at the Swedish National Defence College (SNDC) where he has directed two major research projects in the last five years. Each project was funded by the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency. One examined radicalisation processes and counter‑radicalisation policies within Europe; the other examined CBRNE (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, explosives) terrorism. Dr. Ranstorp has also led a Swedish cabinet study on radicalization (2008/9); a Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) funded project on counter‑radicalization efforts in Indonesia (2009); and an Armed Forces Headquarters study on forecasting terrorism in 2018 (2008). His most recent edited book is Understanding Violent Radicalisation (Routledge, 2010). In 2006 Dr Ranstorp was invited to join the European Commission Expert Group on Violent Radicalisation, an official advisory body on all matters relating to violent radicalisation and recruitment of extremists within the EU.

"Previously he was the Director of Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence (CSTPV) at the University of St Andrews, Scotland. He is the author of Hizballah in Lebanon and other numerous articles and monographs on terrorism and counter-terrorism. His most recent edited book is Mapping Terrorism Research: State of the Art, Gaps and Future Direction (Routledge, 2006). He is on the International Editorial Advisory Board of the academic journal Studies in Conflict and Terrorism. Additionally, he is also on the Editorial Board of Dynamics of Assymetric Conflict as well as Critical Terrorism Studies, two new international, peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary journals published by Taylor & Francis.

"He is Advisor to the Terrorism Project on Violent Radicalisation led by the Danish Institute of International Studies as well as Scientific Advisor to the DHS Center of Excellence START programme led by the University of Maryland. He is also on the Advisory Board of CSTPV, University of St Andrews.

"He is internationally recognised as a leading expert on Hizballah, Hamas, al-Qaeda and other militant Islamic movements. He has conducted extensive field work around the world, interviewing hundreds of terrorists as well as members of militant Islamic movements. His work on the behaviour of the Hizballah movement was recognized by Israeli media in March 2000 as among the contributing factors leading to the decision by the Israeli government to withdraw from southern Lebanon.

"Dr Ranstorp has briefed many senior government and security officials from around the world and lectures regularly to most major universities, think tanks and intergovernmental organisations. In 2003, he was invited to testify before the 9-11 Commission in its first hearing.

"He was also a member of an Advisory Panel on Terrorism in Europe advising the EU counterterrorism coordinator. In 2005, he was a contributor to the George C. Marshall Center directed project on: Ideological War on Terror: Synthesizing Strategies Worldwide (a project funded by the Office of the Secretary of Defence). In 2006 Dr Ranstorp was invited to join the European Commission Expert Group on Violent Radicalisation, an official advisory body on all matters relating to violent radicalisation and recruitment of extremists within the EU.

"He is an elected Fellow of The Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences."

• Oxford Research Group: Associates

Resources and articles

Related Sourcewatch

• International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation & Political Violence (attended first conference)