The Murky World of ‘Extremism’ Research
Richard McNeil-Willson critiques sensationalised and unethical approaches to researching so-called “extremist” groups, responding to popular accounts that celebrate deception, infiltration, and personal risk.
Richard McNeil-Wilson
Dr Richard McNeil-Willson is Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Global Muslim Studies and the Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies department, University of Edinburgh. Previous positions include Research Fellow at the University of Leiden and Max Weber Fellow at the European University Institute, Florence. His research focuses on critically exploring the impact of the long War on Terror in Europe, and includes specific work on social movements and state repression, counterterror proscription, and Islamophobia and race.