Understanding and Countering Radicalisation and Terrorism

This module will provide an introduction to the phenomena of radicalisation and terrorism; including key definitions, causal accounts, empirical trends, past and present manifestations, current groups, and tactics.

Through successive case studies, students will familiarise themselves with the following five approaches to prevention and disruption: Efforts to anticipate and prevent terrorism acts through situational measures; enforcement measures used to disrupt, disable or suppress the activities of terrorist networks; interventions aimed at the individual actor, their risk factors, belief systems and pathways out of terrorism involvement; removal of the economic basis for terrorist activities by attacking organised crime; and strategies which focus on the "root causes" of terrorism and radicalisation.

Course leader

Dr. Amy Thornton

Target group

This is a level one module (equivalent to first year undergraduate). No prior subject knowledge is required for this module, but students are expected to have a keen interest in the area.

Course aim

Upon successful completion of this module, students will:

Understand terrorism and radicalisation from a distinctive security and crime science perspective
Understand ‘what works’ in preventing and disrupting radicalisation and terrorism
Be able to critically reflect on the conceptual and methodological issues involved in studying radicalisation and terrorism as concrete scientific problems
Have the ability to consider what a scientific approach implies for the design and implementation of preventative or disruptive social technologies.

Credits info

7.5 EC
7.5 ECTS / 4 US / 15 UCL

Fee info

GBP 2350: Students joining us for six weeks (two modules) will receive a tuition fee discount.
GBP : UCL offers accommodation in a vibrant area in the heart of London.