Roundtable Discussion with Prof Ian Linden on Countering Violent Religious Extremism

In a time of increased tension between religions and religious minorities, Professor Ian Linden explores some of the roots of religious conflict and violence and how these problems arise. The talk will focus in particular on the links between religious identity, radicalisation and extremism. Its interdisciplinary approach will embrace theological, sociological, psychological and historical methodologies. The premise is that there is such a thing as “the extremist mind” – characterised by a distorted perception of social and political reality – generated by different perverse narratives: Neo-Nazi, takfiri-jihadi, Buddhist extremist etc. Given the contemporary rise and fall of Daesh and AQ with their terrorist onslaught, the role of their ideologies in sustaining extremism will be explored.