Rik Peels

Rik Peels

Dr. Rik Peels is a Professor in Philosophy and Theology of Radicalisation at the Faculty of Humanities at the Free University of Amsterdam. Rik specialises in the ethics and epistemology of belief, in particular extreme belief, and replication in the humanities. He has developed a theory of responsible belief, studied ignorance, criticised scientism and developed…

Episode 247: Religious Extremism with Rik Peels

Coordinated and Produced by Elisa Garbil Today Dominic hosts Rik Peels on the podcast to discuss religious extremism. They dive into the background of radicalisation; the differences between extremism, fundamentalism, and conspiracy theories; what the global patterns are; what role belief systems play in radicalisation; why radicalisation has such an impact on crises; and more! Dr. Rik…

Religion, religious extremism, extremism

Understanding Religious Extremism: A Multidisciplinary View

Written by Elisa Garbil – 10.07.2025 Religious extremism is often portrayed in stark and simplistic terms, dangerous, irrational, and rooted in blind faith. But research from philosophers, psychologists, and international organisations paints a more nuanced picture. It reveals that extremism isn’t solely about belief systems; it’s about identity, psychological vulnerabilities, and the socio-political environments in…

Episode 185: From Fringe to Mainstream – Unraveling Modern Extremism with Julia Ebner

In this episode of the International Risk Podcast, host Dominic Bowen speaks with Julia Ebner, a senior research fellow at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue and leader of the Violent Extremism Lab at the University of Oxford. As one of the foremost experts in extremism and radicalisation, Julia shares insights from her decade-long research, including…

julia ebner

Julia Ebner

Julia Ebner is an Austrian researcher, author, and leading expert in extremism and radicalisation studies, based in London and Oxford. Born and raised in Vienna, Austria, she developed an early interest in extremism during her academic career. Her educational background is extensive and international, completing her undergraduate studies with both a BA in Philosophy and…

Episode 172: Extreme Misogyny and Men’s Health with Nicholas Martin

Coordinated and Produced by Elisa Garbil In this episode of The International Risk Podcast, Nicholas and Dominic discuss the decision of the British government to make ‘extreme’ misogyny extremism. They dive into what misogyny is, what the consequences are, the impact on men’s mental health, and whether this bill would be a solution. Moreover, they discuss…

nicholas martin the international risk podcast

Nicholas Martin

Nicholas Martin is the CEO of Stay Safe Global and The Stay Safe Global Charitable Trust, leading the way in combatting abuse, harassment, and violence through innovative safety programs, organisational consultancy and online resources. He has been internationally lauded for his expertise in creating informed and supportive workspaces on all aspects of personal safety.  His…

misogyny international risk

Misogyny, Men’s Health and the International Risks

Written by Elisa Garbil – 16.09.2024 Misogyny is not new. Misogyny doesn’t surprise most of us. Yet, the British Government has decided that it had enough and decided to make ‘extreme’ misogyny extremism. The British Government has asked its counter-extremism strategy to determine which would be the best way to tackle harmful ideologies. The idea is…