Institute for Strategic Dialogue

ISD’s Julia Ebner discusses radicalization in the era of mainstreamed conspiracies ISD's Julia Ebner was interviewed by Der Standard about radicalization and the normalization of fringe conspiracy theories.

ISD’s Julia Ebner spoke with Der Standard about how conspiracy theories have increasingly entered the mainstream.

She explains how recognising shared experiences—even among those seen as enemies—could help bridge growing divides.

Read it here. www.isdglobal.org/isd-in-the-n...

“Total remigration”: Anti-migrant narratives targeting the UK A year after the worst far-right riots in recent British history, data shows that anti-migrant language are rife online.

A year after the worst far-right riots in recent British history, ISD found that hostility towards migrants in the UK is only intensifying. The number of anti-migrant posts on X in the first half of 2025 was almost the same as all of 2024. ISD’s latest examines how this rhetoric is accelerating 👇

Evolving domestic terrorism threats challenge traditional classifications Speaking to NPR, ISD’s Katherine Keneally notes a shift in violent trends, with recent perpetrators often lacking a clear ideological motive

ISD’s Director of Threat Assessment, Katherine Keneally, recently spoke to NPR about the evolving nature of political violence.

She noted a rise in incidents carried out by perpetrators who lack a coherent ideological motivation.

Read it here: www.isdglobal.org/isd-in-the-n...

Emerging Extremism-Related Threats in the UK: Implications for Policy Responses The UK’s extremism threat is shifting toward decentralised online networks and hybrid ideologies, demanding a new violence prevention model.

At this crucial juncture in counter-extremism policy, our paper ‘Emerging Extremism-Related Threats in the UK: Implications for Policy Responses’ offers an overview of the rapidly evolving threats facing the UK, & the joined up approaches required to respond to these new challenges. Read it below.

Terror without ideology? The rise of nihilistic violence – An ISD Investigation ISD examines how online nihilistic communities inspire violence and challenge terrorism frameworks built around ideological threats.

ISD research shows how the extremism threat landscape is shifting, becoming more ideologically ambiguous & shaped by online networks over formalised groups. Yet current response frameworks struggle to address individuals who don’t fit established extremist ideologies.

Emerging Extremism-Related Threats in the UK: Implications for Policy Responses The UK’s extremism threat is shifting toward decentralised online networks and hybrid ideologies, demanding a new violence prevention model.

A year after the horrific attack on three young girls in Southport, ISD’s new policy paper assesses how policymakers can respond to emerging forms of extremism-related violence which are currently slipping through the cracks 👇 www.isdglobal.org/isd-publicat...

Online radicalization and the nexus to violence in the US: 2024 year in review ISD’s 2024 analysis found most deadly attacks stemmed from nihilistic subcultures, outpacing defined ideologies in a shifting threat landscape.

ISD’s analysis of the 2024 terrorist landscape found that loosely defined ideologies—such as nihilistic subcultures—now account for most deadly attacks. While the threat landscape evolves rapidly, our frameworks remain static & ill-equipped to meet these challenges. Read ISD’s latest to learn more.

ISD analysis and recommendations reflected in UK's new ‘Lessons for Prevent’ report on violent extremism ISD’s recommendations on non-ideological threats and online prevention are reflected in the UK's new ‘Lessons for Prevent’ report.

For our press release on how ISD’s research and recommendations relate to the ‘Lessons for Prevent' report, visit our website. www.isdglobal.org/press-releas...

We are also pleased to see much-needed focus on prevention in online spaces and deeper engagement with young people in intervention design.

We hope these recommendations are implemented and look forward to supporting efforts to counter extremism and protect rights and democracy.

Failing to Prevent: Lessons from the Southport tragedy Axel Rudakubana's conviction for the Southport killings highlights gaps in the UK’s approach to preventing targeted mass violence and terrorism.

After the Southport attacker’s, ISD published analysis outlining how a new approach to prevention might better capture non-ideological threats. These reccs are reflected in a more contextualised vision for violence prevention, termed “the big front door” by Lord Anderson (recommendation 3).

The 'Lessons for Prevent' report published today by the UK's Interim Independent Prevent Commissioner Lord Anderson gets to the heart of key issues challenging responses to violent extremism in today's shifting threat landscape. ISD is pleased to see our threat analysis & policy reccs reflected.

AI blurs reality amid Iran-Israel conflict ISD’s Isabelle Frances-Wright was featured in a recent NPR piece on AI-generated content that spread during the Iran-Israel conflict.

ISD’s Isabelle Frances-Wright spoke to NPR about how AI-generated content muddied the information space during the Iran-Israel conflict, calling it “potentially the worst” she’s seen in two years. This is of particular concern during wartime when the line btwn fact & fiction is vanishing for many.

Towards transparent recommender systems: Lessons from TikTok research ahead of the 2025 German federal election ISD’s analysis of TikTok’s FYP ahead of Germany’s 2025 election highlights how limited transparency and data access hinder efforts to assess political bias in recommender systems.

How political is your “For You Page”?

Ahead of Germany’s 2025 election, ISD found political content—particularly from certain partisan sources—was disproportionately pushed by TikTok, raising q's about recommender system influence. This brief explores findings & offers policy recommendations.

ISD submitted evidence to the UK Home Affairs Select Committee enquiry on new forms of extremism, outlining how today’s complex threat landscape requires a re-imagination of policy responses, from ideology-centric approaches towards broader violence prevention. Read it below.

Country Report: Assessment of Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) in the 2025 German Federal Election Foreign and domestic actors used AI, bots and fake media to spread disinformation, fueling divides ahead of Germany’s 2025 election.

The consortium calls for a coordinated, multistakeholder approach to mitigating and FIMI. It urges European governments to take concrete steps to safeguard electoral processes and reinforce the resilience of democratic institutions. Read the full report below.

Country Report: Assessment of Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) in the 2025 German Federal Election Foreign and domestic actors used AI, bots and fake media to spread disinformation, fueling divides ahead of Germany’s 2025 election.

The findings outline how foreign and domestic actors exploited societal divides, with Russian-aligned campaigns using AI, bots and media impersonation to spread disinformation, distort engagement and undermine democratic trust.

Country Report: Assessment of Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) in the 2025 German Federal Election Foreign and domestic actors used AI, bots and fake media to spread disinformation, fueling divides ahead of Germany’s 2025 election.

The 2025 German federal election is another example of a democratic process targeted by foreign actors seeking to influence domestic opinion.

Last week, the FIMI ISAC (Foreign Information Manipulation & Interference Information Sharing & Analysis Center) consortium published its analysis on this👇

ISD’s Katherine Keneally spoke to Vox about the rising challenges of tracking political violence in the US. One worrying trend: more people are beginning to view it as a legitimate response to political grievances. Read it here. www.isdglobal.org/isd-in-the-n...

Emerging cross-border dynamics in Ireland's anti-migrant mobilisation Anti-migrant sentiments have united former foes on both sides of the Irish border. Northern Irish Loyalists and Irish Republicans have voiced online support for each other and crossed the Irish border...

Other anti-migrant & far-right figures have also attended protests. Ranging from British neo-Nazis to US conspiracy theorists, these individuals bolster anti-migrant narratives across the island of Ireland, while exporting them to domestic audiences. Our full analysis below.

Emerging cross-border dynamics in Ireland's anti-migrant mobilisation Anti-migrant sentiments have united former foes on both sides of the Irish border. Northern Irish Loyalists and Irish Republicans have voiced online support for each other and crossed the Irish border...

The violence is part of a textbook that blends online amplification with street protests, intimidation and targeted violence, with actors from Northern Ireland travelling to protests in the Republic and vice versa. www.isdglobal.org/digital_disp...

Emerging cross-border dynamics in Ireland's anti-migrant mobilisation Anti-migrant sentiments have united former foes on both sides of the Irish border. Northern Irish Loyalists and Irish Republicans have voiced online support for each other and crossed the Irish border...

Allegations that two Romanian nationals had sexually assaulted a local teen in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, have been used by far-right actors across the island of Ireland to promote anti-migrant hate. www.isdglobal.org/digital_disp...

Emerging cross-border dynamics in Ireland's anti-migrant mobilisation Anti-migrant sentiments have united former foes on both sides of the Irish border. Northern Irish Loyalists and Irish Republicans have voiced online support for each other and crossed the Irish border...

Anti-migrant narratives are uniting longstanding foes on both sides of the Irish border, while far-right actors from overseas are seizing on the opportunity to spread dissent and polarisation 👇 www.isdglobal.org/digital_disp...

ISD’s Jacob Davey highlights terrorism’s evolution since 7/7 bombings on BBC Radio Wales ISD's Jacob Davey spoke to BBC Radio Wales on how the terror threat has shifted in the 20 years since the 7/7 London bombings.

ISD’s Jacob Davey spoke to BBC Radio Wales about the shifting terrorist threat landscape in the 20 yrs since the 7/7 bombings. While Islamist extremism remains dominant, far-right & ideologically hybrid groups are rising, helped by social media business models amplifying hate. Interview below👇

ISD analysts warn against overapplying the label of nihilistic violence ISD’s Steven Rai and Cody Zoschak break down the rising threat of nihilistic violence—and how mislabeling it could make things worse—in a new piece for Just Security

ISD’s Steven Rai and Cody Zoschak break down the rising threat of nihilistic violence—and how mislabeling it could make things worse—in a new piece for Just Security.

Read their article below 👇 www.isdglobal.org/isd-in-the-n...

Twenty years on: Responses to Islamist terrorism in the UK since 7/7 Catalysed by the 7/7 bombings, UK counter-terrorism focused on Islamist groups but now faces diverse threats, requiring a human rights-based, holistic prevention strategy.

20 yrs on from the 7/7 bombings, UK counter-terrorism faces a transformed threat landscape, while still operating within a system built for the early 2000s. As non-Islamist cases rise & pressure mounts on Prevent, a rights-based, holistic approach is urgently needed. More in our mini-series 👇

Twenty years on: Assessing the UK Islamist terrorism landscape since 7/7 This article examines how the Islamist threat in the UK has developed, shifted, and persisted since the 7/7 London bombings 20 years ago.

Islamist extremism has shifted dramatically in the 20 yrs since the 7/7 London bombings.

In the first of a 2-part series on the evolution of the threat and policy responses since the 2005 bombings, we examine how Islamist extremism has become more fragmented, hybridised, and digitally driven 👇

Proscribing Palestine Action: A blunt tool for a complex challenge Is terrorism proscription the proportionate policy response to a group like Palestine Action?

Tackling these issues requires fine-grained responses rooted in liberal democratic principles—not blunt force.

Read our full Dispatch exploring this here: www.isdglobal.org/digital_disp...

Proscribing Palestine Action: A blunt tool for a complex challenge Is terrorism proscription the proportionate policy response to a group like Palestine Action?

Proscription would stretch counter-terror legislation beyond its original scope to cover direct action. Failing to justify deploying the extraordinary powers associated with terrorism legislation comes with major risks of relativising the severity of terrorism.
www.isdglobal.org/digital_disp...

Proscribing Palestine Action: A blunt tool for a complex challenge Is terrorism proscription the proportionate policy response to a group like Palestine Action?

The move would place the group alongside Islamist and neo-Nazi extremists, making membership and support an offence while allowing for great surveillance. www.isdglobal.org/digital_disp...

Proscribing Palestine Action: A blunt tool for a complex challenge Is terrorism proscription the proportionate policy response to a group like Palestine Action?

Home Office plans to proscribe activist group Palestine Action after members vandalised military planes threatens to set a dangerous precedent around the counter-terror apparatus.
www.isdglobal.org/digital_disp...