Erroll Southers, Associate Director of Research Transition at the Department of Homeland Security National Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events (CREATE), will discuss his book, "Homegrown Violent Extremism," at 11:30 a.m. Monday, March 3, at START Headquarters (8400 Baltimore Ave., Suite 250, College Park, MD 20740). The talk is free and open to the public but attendees should register online via the link to the left.
Book Abstract
In the aftermath of the Boston Marathon terrorist attack, the U.S. homeland security effort is at a crossroads. Even as foreign terrorists seek ways to harm U.S. citizens and interests, there is a growing threat from domestic extremists able to execute lethal attacks while eluding much of the U.S. homeland security apparatus. In this groundbreaking book, Dr. Erroll G. Southers discusses the Boston Marathon attack, offering a wider discussion of the many extremist ideologies that threaten national security while also providing a detailed exploration of the nexus between ideology, radicalization and homegrown terrorism.
"Homegrown Violent Extremism" argues that to address the broader challenge of preventing terrorist attacks that originate with citizens and residents (rather than foreign adversaries), we must take on a more nuanced, thoughtful and intelligent perspective of homegrown violent extremism, its origins, and the methods for interrupting those on a pathway to violence. Part of this strategy includes focused efforts to counter the extremist ideologies and messages that propel individuals through the radicalization process.
The emerging phenomenon of homegrown violent extremism necessitates a more robust and interdisciplinary understanding of how individuals progress through radicalization and engage in violent activity, revealing the factors and motivations that can lead to domestic acts of terror. The book also discusses how counterterrorism should evolve in professional practice and offers a detailed description of a new community engagement counterterrorism model designed to address and overcome this growing 21st century threat.
About Erroll G. Southers
Dr. Erroll G. Southers is the Associate Director of Research Transition at the Department of Homeland Security National Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events (CREATE). He was President Barack Obama’s first nominee for Transportation Security Administration Assistant Secretary, and he was also California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Deputy Director for Critical Infrastructure of the California Office of Homeland Security. Dr. Southers also previously enjoyed the distinction of FBI Special Agent and SWAT team member, as well as Santa Monica Police Officer.
Professor Southers holds roles throughout the international counterterrorism and national security arena. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California Sol Price School of Public Policy, where he developed the Executive Program in Counterterrorism. He is also: a Visiting Fellow and member of the Professional Advisory Board of the International Institute of Counter-Terrorism in Herzliya, Israel; a member of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Homeland Security Project; a Senior Fellow at the UCLA School of Public Affairs; and a member of the Advisory Committee for the Command, Control and Interoperability Center for Advanced Data Analysis (CCICADA) at Rutgers University. He is also the Managing Director of the Counter-Terrorism and Infrastructure Protection Division for TAL Global Corporation, an international security consulting firm. Dr. Southers received his bachelor's degree from Brown University, and he holds masters and doctoral degrees in public policy from USC.