Parag Khanna
Founder & CEO, AlphaGeo | Bestselling Author, The Future is Asian, Connectography & MOVE | World-Renowned Geopolitical Strategist | Visiting Research Fellow, ADIA Labs | PhD, London School of Economics
Peter Neumann
Professor of Security Studies, King's College London | Founding Director, ICSR | Expert on Terrorism, Radicalisation & the Far Right
Peter Neumann is the world's foremost academic authority on radicalisation and terrorism, founder of the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation (ICSR) at King's College London and author of nine books. Cited nearly 8,000 times and advising governments from Washington to Brussels, he brings rare clarity to the forces driving political violence, extremism, and the erosion of democratic institutions.
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Peter Neumann biography
Peter Neumann is one of the world’s most respected authorities on terrorism, radicalisation, and political violence, and the founding director of the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation (ICSR) at King’s College London — widely recognised as the world’s leading research institution on radicalisation and extremism. A Professor of Security Studies in the Department of War Studies, Neumann has spent over two decades building the intellectual and institutional infrastructure that governments, security agencies, and international organisations rely on to understand and respond to some of the most dangerous phenomena of our time.
Global affairs speaker Peter Neumann is best known for founding ICSR in 2008 and directing it for a decade, during which it became the definitive academic source on jihadist networks, online radicalisation, foreign fighter flows, and deradicalisation policy. His work has been cited nearly 8,000 times in academic literature, placing him among the most influential scholars in his field worldwide. He has given evidence before committees of the U.S. House of Representatives and the UK House of Commons, advised the Club de Madrid — the association of former heads of state and government — and served in 2017 as the OSCE’s Special Representative on Countering Violent Extremism. He is also a Research Fellow at Oxford’s Changing Character of War Programme and a Senior Researcher at the European Commission’s Radicalisation Awareness Network.
Neumann has authored or co-authored nine books on terrorism and security. His English-language titles include Bluster: Donald Trump’s War on Terror (Oxford University Press, 2020), Radicalized: New Jihadists and the Threat to the West (IB Tauris, 2016), Old and New Terrorism (Polity Press, 2009), and The Strategy of Terrorism (Routledge, 2008). His most recent work, co-authored with journalist Richard C. Schneider, is Das Sterben der Demokratie (Rowohlt, 2025) — an investigative account of how right-wing populists in Europe and the United States are systematically eroding democratic institutions, praised by the Süddeutsche Zeitung as analytically sharp and urgently necessary.
From the Lecture Hall to the Policy Table
Neumann’s institutional reach is matched by his public profile. His analysis has appeared in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the New Statesman, the London Review of Books, and New Scientist, and he is a frequent commentator on radio and television in Germany, the UK, and internationally. He sits on the editorial boards of three leading peer-reviewed journals — Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, the Journal of Strategic Studies, and Democracy and Security — and co-directs the MA in Terrorism, Security and Society at King’s. He has taught at King’s College London, Georgetown University, Johns Hopkins University, and Sciences Po. He holds an MA in Political Science from the Free University of Berlin and a PhD in War Studies from King’s College London, and before entering academia worked as a radio journalist in Berlin.
As a speaker, Peter Neumann brings intellectual authority and analytical precision to some of the most difficult and consequential subjects on the global agenda: the radicalisation of individuals and communities, the evolution of jihadist and far-right extremism, the use of the internet and social media as tools of recruitment, and the policy choices that separate effective counter-terrorism from counterproductive approaches. His talks challenge audiences to move beyond headlines and into the strategic reality of how violent extremism actually develops — and what organisations and governments can do to prevent it.
Peter Neumann Speaking Videos
Radicalization: Interview with ICSR's Peter Neumann
Peter Neumann - Online Radicalisation: Myths and Reality
Peter Neumann Keynote Topics
Why do individuals embrace extremist ideologies — and what actually works to prevent it? In this keynote, Peter Neumann draws on over two decades of frontline research at ICSR to provide a rigorous, evidence-based account of how radicalisation happens, what factors drive individuals toward political violence, and what distinguishes effective prevention from well-intentioned failure. He examines the interplay between ideology, identity, grievance, and social dynamics; the specific pathways taken by jihadist and far-right recruits; and the lessons — often hard-won — from deradicalisation programmes around the world. Audiences leave with a clear framework for understanding radicalisation not as a mysterious or inevitable process, but as one that can be mapped, interrupted, and countered.
Based on his most recent work, this keynote examines one of the defining political challenges of our era: the deliberate, strategic erosion of democratic institutions by right-wing populist movements across Europe and the United States. Drawing on investigative research conducted in Hungary, France, the Netherlands, Italy, and the US, Peter Neumann traces the playbook that populist movements use to undermine checks and balances, capture institutions, delegitimise opponents, and consolidate power — and assesses how far advanced this process already is in different contexts. For senior audiences concerned about political risk, institutional resilience, and the future of the international order, this talk offers the most analytically grounded perspective available on a phenomenon that is reshaping the world.
The internet did not create extremism — but it has transformed how it spreads, who it reaches, and how quickly individuals can move from curiosity to commitment. In this keynote, Peter Neumann cuts through the myths that surround online radicalisation — that it is purely a tech problem, that algorithms are the sole driver, that banning content solves the underlying issue — and presents what the research actually shows about how online environments interact with offline grievances to produce radicalized individuals. He examines specific platforms, specific movements, and specific interventions that have worked, and offers practical guidance for organisations — from tech companies to employers to government agencies — seeking to understand their role in a more complex and dynamic information landscape.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Peter Neumann
Why Peter Neumann?
Booking Peter Neumann means bringing the world's foremost academic expert on radicalisation and terrorism to your event — a scholar whose research has shaped counter-terrorism policy in the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and beyond. As the founding director of ICSR at King's College London, a witness before the U.S. House of Representatives and UK House of Commons, and the author of nine books on extremism and security, Neumann offers something no generalist commentator can: two decades of frontline research translated into clear, actionable strategic insight. His talks are intellectually rigorous, politically clear-eyed, and directly relevant to organisations navigating geopolitical risk, security strategy, and the implications of rising extremism for democratic institutions and business environments. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to check Peter Neumann's availability and speaking fees.
What is the ICSR and why does it matter?
The International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation (ICSR), founded by Peter Neumann at King's College London in 2008, is the world's leading research institution dedicated to understanding and countering radicalisation and political violence. It has produced landmark research on foreign fighter networks, online recruitment by jihadist groups, prison-based deradicalisation programmes, and far-right extremism, and its findings directly inform government policy and security practice across Europe and North America. Neumann directed the centre for a decade, building it into a global reference point for anyone — from intelligence agencies to corporate security teams — seeking to understand how radicalisation actually works and what can be done to prevent it.
What is the difference between radicalisation and terrorism, and why does the distinction matter?
Radicalisation is the process through which individuals move toward extremist beliefs and, in some cases, toward the willingness to use or support violence. Terrorism is the use of violence — typically against civilians — to achieve political goals. The distinction matters enormously for policy: most people who become radicalised never commit acts of terrorism, which means that effective prevention must address the radicalization pathway long before violence becomes likely. Peter Neumann's research has been central to establishing this distinction in both academic literature and policy practice, and his talks help audiences understand how to intervene at the right moment with the right tools — rather than conflating the two in ways that produce both injustice and ineffectiveness.
What topics does Peter Neumann cover as a keynote speaker?
Peter Neumann speaks on radicalisation and counter-radicalisation, jihadist and far-right extremism, online recruitment and the role of social media in political violence, terrorism and counter-terrorism strategy, insurgency and counterinsurgency, the rise of right-wing populism and its threat to democratic institutions, and geopolitical risk for organisations operating in unstable environments. His keynotes are regularly requested by government agencies, defence and security organisations, financial institutions managing geopolitical exposure, and academic and policy conferences. To book Peter Neumann for your next event, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
How to book Peter Neumann as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Peter Neumann as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Peter Neumann's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Peter Neumann or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Peter Neumann speaking fee?
Peter Neumann speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Peter Neumann to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Peter Neumann.
How can I contact Peter Neumann?
We only work with Peter Neumann on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Peter Neumann and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Peter Neumann speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Peter Neumann for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Peter Neumann for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Peter Neumann is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Peter Neumann for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
