RESEARCH FOR RESILIENCE

The National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center (NCITE), based at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, aims to be the nation’s leading academic center for the study of emerging and novel terrorism threats. Funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the NCITE consortium includes more than 50 researchers at partner institutions across the U.S. and Europe.

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Submissions from 2024

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Malicious Insider Threats: An Overview, Matthew Allen, Kat Parsons, Tin L. Nguyen, and Lauren Zimmerman

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Understanding Insider Threats: Learning from Related Research Streams, Matthew Allen, Kat Parsons, Tin L. Nguyen, and Lauren Zimmerman

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Behind the curve: technology challenges facing the homeland intelligence and counterterrorism workforce, Michelle Black, Lana Obradovic, and Deanna House

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Physical security culture: The neglected foundation for effective security, Kelsey Ciagala, Sydney L. Reichin, Kat Parsons, and Samuel T. Hunter

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Examining Artificial Intelligence and its Role in Malevolent Creativity and Innovation: How AI Can Enhance Novel Threats and Attacks, Alexis L. d'Amato, Madison Scott, Emma Theobald, Averie E. Linnell, Joel Elson, Sam T. Hunter, and Jack Rygg

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Research Challenges in Combating Terrorists Use of Explosives in the United States – 2024: Key Science and Technology Contributions, Austin C. Doctor

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Understanding Terrorist Use of Explosives in the United States, Austin C. Doctor, Angie Benda, and Lauren Moss

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Research Challenges in Combating Terrorist Use of Explosives in the United States 2024, Austin C. Doctor, Samuel T. Hunter, Gina Scott Ligon, Gary Wes Carter, Dan Polanski, and Jimmie Oxley

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Innovation in Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention: Final Closeout Report, Joel Elson and Erin M. Kearns

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Innovation in Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention: Phase II Summary Report, Joel Elson and Erin M. Kearns

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Advancements in the Connection Between Unmanned Systems (UxS) and Geospatial Technologies, Abie Harder, Ryan Vilter, and Austin C. Doctor

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Snapshot of U.S. Federal Cases Against Violent Incels, Seamus Hughes and Camden Carmichael

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Snapshot of U.S. Federal Cases Against Violent QAnon Adherents, Seamus Hughes, Camden Carmichael, and Clara Braun

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The Metaverse as a Future Threat Landscape: An Interdisciplinary Perspective, Sam T. Hunter, Alexis L. d'Amato, Joel Elson, Austin C. Doctor, and Averie E. Linnell

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Threat and Risk Assessment Measurement: A State of the Science Review, Sam T. Hunter, Katherine Parsons, Kelsey Ciagala, Sydney L. Reichin, Matt Allen, Erin M. Kearns, Austin C. Doctor, and Joel Elson

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Messaging Matters: How Extremists Influence Followers Online, Matthew Jensen, Shane Connelly, Hairong Song, Ares Boira Lopez, Joseph Stewart, and Cecelia F. Gordon

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Screening for Insider Threats in US Law Enforcement: A National Sample of Department Policies and Practices Plain Language Summary, Erin M. Kearns, Sadaf Hashimi, Jessica Huff, Justin Nix, and Natalie Cotton

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Screening for Insider Threats in US Law Enforcement: A National Sample of Department Policies and Practices Self-Assessment Toolkit, Erin M. Kearns, Sadaf Hashimi, Jessica Huff, Justin Nix, and Natalie Cotton

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Screening for Insider Threats in US Law Enforcement: A National Sample of Department Policies and Practices State of Practice Guide, Erin M. Kearns, Sadaf Hashimi, Jessica Huff, Justin Nix, and Natalie Cotton

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One Year Later: The Impact of the Oct. 7 Attack in the United States, Gina Scott Ligon, Mackenzie Harms, Erin Grace, and Blake Ursch

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Vicarious Trauma in Counterterrorism Practitioners, Daisy Muibu, Joseph Young, Michael Becker, Sarah Lynch, Ethan Ferguson, and Lindsay Barclay

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Advancements in the Connection Between Internet of Things (IoT) and Geospatial Technologies, Madeline Romm

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Preventing U.S. Election Violence: Countering the Harmful Effects of Election Conspiracy Theories, Bettina Rottweiler, Isabelle van der Vegt, and Paul Gill

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Advancements in Open-Source Geospatial Technologies and the Exploitation by Bad Actors, Megan Rutter

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Impact Assessment: National Security Simulation Course at Drake University, David Schanzer, Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, and Jessica Sperling

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Pixels and Propaganda: A Primer on Gaming, Gaming-Adjacent Platforms, and Extremism, Madison Scott, Emma Theobald, Alexis L. d'Amato, Joel Elson, and Samuel T. Hunter

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A Directory of Threat Assessment Models, Amber Seaward, Zoe Marchment, and Paul Gill

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Understanding Threats to Public Officials, Peter Simi, Christopher Bader, and Seamus Hughes

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Recognizing and Getting Help for Extremist Behavior: A Guide for Families, Karyn Sporer, Brooke Buxton, and Nicholas Brown

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The Relationship Between Language Use and Conspiracy Beliefs, Isabelle van der Vegt, Bettina Rottweiler, and Paul Gill

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Data Snapshot: The Consequences of "True Threats" Among Local Election Officials, Steven Windisch

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Guardians of the Ballot Box: Addressing Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities and Privacy Concerns for Local Election Officials in Digital Spaces, Steven Windisch; Adrienne Brookstein; Steven Chen; Adan Vela; and National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center

Submissions from 2023

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Examining Best Practices in Threat Assessment from an Insider Threat Perspective: A Review and Integration: Interim Deliverable, Matt Allen, Katherine Parsons, Tin L. Nguyen, and Lauren Zimmerman

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Financing Violent Extremism: An Examination of Maligned Creativity in the Use of Financial Technologies, Marc-Andre Argentino; Jessica Davis; Tore Refslund Hamming; National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center; and International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation

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The Death of Bilal al-Sudani and Its Impact on Islamic State Operations, Tricia Bacon and Austin C. Doctor

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Vicarious Trauma via the Observation of Extremist Atrocities: A Rapid Evidence Assessment, Matthew Crayne and Neil Shortland

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Psychological Trauma in Terrorism (PT2R): Phase 1 End of Year Report, Matthew Crayne; Neil Shortland; Jennifer L. Mezzapelle; and National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center

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Transnational Ties Between Selected U.S. and Foreign Violent Extremist Actors: Evidence from the Mapping Militants Project, Martha Crenshaw; Kaitlyn Robinson; and National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center

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Creativity training needs assessment for homeland security enterprise: a case for creative thinking, Alexis L. d'Amato and Samuel T. Hunter

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Militant Leadership and Terrorism in Armed Conflict, Austin C. Doctor, Samuel T. Hunter, and Gina Scott Ligon

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Reintegration of Foreign Terrorist Fighter Families: A Framework of Best Practices for the U.S., Austin C. Doctor; Haroro J. Ingram; Devorah Margolin; Andrew Mines; Lorenzo Vidino; National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center; and Program on Extremism, George Washington University

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Innovation in Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention: Phase 1 Summary Report, Joel Elson and Erin M. Kearns

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Knowledge Gaps in Reporting, Joel Elson and Erin M. Kearns

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Reporting Form Construction, Joel Elson and Erin M. Kearns

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Threat Assessment Team Cohesion, Joel Elson and Erin M. Kearns

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Understanding and Applying SAR to Ideological and Nation- State-Sponsored Cybercrimes, Thomas J. Holt; Steve Chermak; Joshua D. Freilich; Emily Greene-Colozzi; and National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center

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Applying Normal Accident Theory to Ideological and Nation-State-Sponsored Cybercrimes, Thomas J. Holt and National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center

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GW Extremism Tracker: Oath Keepers, Seamus Hughes

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GW Extremism Tracker: Terrorism in the United States, Seamus Hughes

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GW Extremism Tracker: The Islamic State in America, Seamus Hughes

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Equifinality and the Key Role it Plays in Understanding the Future of Leadership, Sam T. Hunter, Austin C. Doctor, Matthew Allen, and Gina Scott Ligon

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Messaging Matters: Ideological Influence Online Year 3 Final Report, Matthew L. Jensen; Shane Connelly; Shaila Miranda; Hairong Song; Ares Boira Lopez; Cecilia Gordon; Joseph Stewart; and National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center

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Founding Fathers of the Modern American Neo-Nazi Movement: The Impacts and Legacies of Louis Beam, William Luther Pierce, and James Mason, Jon Lewis; Haroro J. Ingram; National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center; and Program on Extremism, George Washington University

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The Needs of the Counterterrorism Workforce: The Availability and Utility of Datasets on Domestic Terrorism and Targeted Violence, Michael Logan, Steven Windisch, and Adrienne Brookstein

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Trends in the Return and Prosecution of ISIS Foreign Terrorist Fighters in the United States, Tanya Mehra, Merlina Herbach, Devorah Margolin, and Austin C. Doctor

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The Age of Incoherence? Understanding Mixed and Unclear Ideology Extremism, Alexander Meleagrou-Hitchens; Moustafa Ayad; Program on Extremism, George Washington University; and National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center

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Maintaining the Movement: ISIS Outreach to Westerners in the Post-Caliphate Era, Alexander Meleagrou-Hitchens; Julien Bellaiche; Program on Extremism, The George Washington University; and National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center

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NCITE Annual Report 2022-2023, National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center

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Advancing an Organizational Health Perspective for Insider Threat Prevention and Management, Tin L. Nguyen, Matthew T. Allen, and Kat Parsons

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Malevolent Creativity as Parochial Altruism? Examining the Intergroup Bases of New and Harmful Ideas, Tin L. Nguyen, Alexis L. d'Amato, Scarlett Miller, and Samuel T. Hunter

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GW Extremism Tracker: The Proud Boys, Program on Extremism, George Washington University and National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center

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Militant Splinter Groups and the Use of Violence, Kaitlyn Robinson and Iris Malone

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Countering Far-Right Anti-Government Extremism in the United States, Kaitlyn Robinson, Iris Malone, and Martha Crenshaw

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Understanding Threats to Public Officials, Peter Simi and Seamus Hughes

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Facilitating Suspicious Activity Reporting at the Community Level, Karyn Sporer and Brooke Buxton

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Prevention Program Sustainability and Associated Determinants: A Literature Review, Version 1.0, Andrea Walker, Sarah Steele, Matt Allen, and Nicholas J. Arreola

Submissions from 2022

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Imitators or Innovators? Comparing Salafi-Jihadist and White Supremacist Attack Planning in the United States, Bennett Clifford; Alexander Meleagrou-Hitchens; Program on Extremism, George Washington University; and National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center

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Women in American Violent Extremism: An Examination of Far-Right and Salafi-Jihadist Movements, Chelsea Daymon; Devorah Margolin; Program on Extremism, George Washington University; and National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center

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Hezbollah's Operations and Networks in the United States: Two Decades in Reviews, Anyssia S. Kokinos; Nakissa P. Jahanbani; Jon Lewis; Devorah Margolin; Program on Extremism, George Washington University; National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center; and Combating Terrorism Center at West Point

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Mayhem, Murder, and Misdirection: Violent Extremist Attack Plots Against Critical Infrastructure in the United States, 2016-2022, Ilana Krill; Bennett Clifford; Program on Extremism, George Washington University; and National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center

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Fighting the Hydra: Combatting Vulnerabilities in Online Leaderless Resistance Networks, Iris Malone; Lauren Blasco; Kaitlyn Robinson; and National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center

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Emerging Risks in the Marine Transportation System (MTS), 2001- 2021, Iris Malone; Anastasia Strouboulis; and National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center

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Emerging Risks in the Marine Transportation System Post-9/11: NCITE Research Snapshot, Iris Malone; Anastasia Strouboulis; and National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center

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Predicting Targeted Violence: An Update, National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center and Iris Malone

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Barriers to Family Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) of Mobilization Behaviors and Pre-Operational Planning: Report to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center; Peter Simi; and Marisa Quezada

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Target Personification Influences the Positive Emotional Link Between Generating and Implementing Malevolently Creative Ideas, Tin L. Nguyen, Kayla N. Walters, Alexis L. d'Amato, Scarlett R. Miller, and Samuel T. Hunter

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Contemporary Violent Extremism and the Black Hebrew Israelite Movement, Program on Extremism, The George Washington University and National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center

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Facilitating Suspicious Activity Reporting at the Community Level: Family Members’ Observations of Non-Ideological Risk Factors and Signs of Radicalization Among Violent Extremists, Karyn Sporer

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The Islamic State in America: After the Caliphate, Lorenzo Vidino; Seamus Hughes; Bennett Clifford; Program on Extremism, George Washington University; and National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center

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Jihadist Attacks in the West: 2014-2022, Lorenzo Vidino; Francesco Marone; Program on Extremism, George Washington University; and National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center

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Islamist Homophobia in the West: From Rhetoric to Violence, Lorenzo Vidino; Alexander Meleagrou-Hitchens; Program on Extremism, George Washington University; and National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center

Submissions from 2021

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Project 10: Training and Education Research and Implementation Strategies for Homeland Security Intelligence Community, Michelle Black, Lana Obradovic, Elizabeth Bender, Claire Benedix, Josie Nelson, Grant Van Robays, and Christiane Youngberg

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Training & Education for the Homeland Security Intelligence Community, Michelle Black; Lana Obradovic; and National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center

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RACIALLY/ETHNICALLY MOTIVATED VIOLENT EXTREMIST (RMVE) ATTACK PLANNING AND UNITED STATES FEDERAL RESPONSE, 2014-2019, Bennett Clifford; Program on Extremism, George Washington University; and National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center

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The Founding Fathers of American Jihad: The Impacts and Legacies of Anwar al-Awlaki, Samir Khan, and Ahmad Abousamra, Haroro J. Ingram; Jon Lewis; Program on Extremism, George Washington University; and National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center

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Predicting Domestic Extremism and Targeted Violence: A Machine Learning Approach, Iris Malone; Anastasia Strouboulis; and National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center

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RISE OF THE REACTIONARIES: COMPARING THE IDEOLOGIES OF SALAFI-JIHADISM AND WHITE SUPREMACIST EXTREMISM, Alexander Meleagrou-Hitchens; Blyth Crawford; Valentin Wutke; Program on Extremism, George Washington University; and National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center

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Anarchist/Left-Wing Violent Extremism in American: Trends in Radicalization, Recruitment, and Mobilization, National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center and Program on Extremism, The George Washington University

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Family Responses to White Supremacist Extremism: Report to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center; Peter Simi; Steven Windisch; Matthew DeMichele; Karyn Sporer; Amy Aghajanian; Nathan Dufour; Marisa Quezada; and Corinne Tam

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Barriers to Family Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) of Mobilization Behaviors and Pre-Operational Planning: Report to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center; Karyn Sporer; Peter Simi; Matthew DeMichele; Steven Windisch; Amy Aghajanian; Nathan Dufour; and Corinne Tam

Submissions from 2020

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ANTISEMITISM AS AN UNDERLYING PRECURSOR TO VIOLENT EXTREMISM IN AMERICAN FAR-RIGHT AND ISLAMIST CONTEXTS, Alexander Meleagrou-Hitchens; Bennett Clifford; Lorenzo Vidino; Program on Extremism, George Washington University; and National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center

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Dollars for Daesh: Analyzing the Finances of American ISIS Supporters, Lorenzo Vidino; Jon Lewis; Andrew Mines; Program on Extremism, George Washington University; and National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center