Akil N Awan

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Dr. Akil N. Awan is Associate Professor in Modern History, Political Violence and Terrorism in both the Department of History at Royal Holloway, University of London.

His current research interests are focused around the history of terrorism; processes of radicalization; political violence, social movements and protest, new media, and contemporary religion, and he has published widely on these subjects.

He also serves as the Director of Undergraduate Studies in History and the Deputy Director of the Humanities and Arts Research Centre at Royal Holloway. In addition, he is also Research Associate with the New Political Communication Unit, with the Centre for Public History, and the Centre for Minority Studies.

Dr Awan is regularly consulted by government bodies, think-tanks, and other organizations in his fields of expertise, and has served in an advisory capacity and on numerous working groups for The Home Office, the US Military (CTC), the Carter Center, the US State Dept., The Foreign & Commonwealth Office, the Office for Security & Counter Terrorism, Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, Wilton Park, the Royal United Services Institute, and the United Nations.

He has also served as key academic expert on Radicalisation to the UK Parliament, as academic expert on Genocide to the House of Lords delegation to Srebrenica, and as expert advisor on Youth Radicalization to the United Nations.

He is the Founder and Chair of the Political Science Association's Specialist Group on Political Violence & Terrorism.

Experience

  • 2011–present
    Lecturer in Modern History, Political Violence & Terrorism, Royal Holloway
  • 2006–2011
    RCUK Fellow in Contemporary History of Faith, Power & Terror, Royal Holloway

Education

  •  
    UCL, BSc
  • 2011 
    SOAS, University of London, MA, PhD

Publications

  • 2013
    Spurning this Worldly Life: Martyrdom amongst British Jihadists, Martyrdom and Terrorism: Pre-Modern to Contemporary Perspectives
  • 2012
    Jihadi ideology in the new-media environment, Contextualising Jihadi Thought
  • 2011
    Radicalisation and Media: Connectivity and Terrorism in the New Media Ecology,
  • 2009
    Al-Qa'ida's Virtual Crisis, RUSI Journal
  • 2008
    Antecedents of Islamic Political Radicalism Among Muslim Communities in Europe, PS: Political Science & Politics
  • 2007
    Radicalization on the Internet? The Virtual Propagation of Jihadist Media and its Effects, RUSI Journal
  • 2007
    Transitional Religiosity Experiences: Contextual Disjuncture and Islamic Political Radicalism, Islamic Political Radicalism: A European comparative perspective
  • 2007
    Virtual Jihadist media: Function, legitimacy, and radicalising efficacy, European Journal of Cultural Studies

Grants and Contracts

  • 2014
    Betraying the Legacy of Magna Carta - Torture, Rendition, and Extrajudicial Killing in the 21st Century
    Role:
    Principle Investigator
    Funding Source:
    Magna Carta 800th Anniversary Committee
  • 2013
    Bridging Voices: Religion, Conflict Resolution and Digital Media in the Greater Muslim World
    Role:
    Co-Investigator
    Funding Source:
    British Council
  • 2009
    Legitimising the discourses of radicalisation: Political violence in the new media ecology
    Role:
    Co-Investigator
    Funding Source:
    Economic and Social Research Council
  • 2009
    New Security Challenges: Political Violence in the new Media Ecology
    Role:
    Cp-Investigator
    Funding Source:
    ESRC/AHRC/FCO
  • 2006
    Contemporary History of Faith, Power & Terror
    Role:
    Principle Investigator
    Funding Source:
    Research Councils UK

Contact Akil for

  • General
  • Media request
  • Speaking request
  • Consulting / Advising
  • Research collaboration
  • Research supervision