Research centre on terrorism and radicalisation opens at l'ULg

A research centre on terrorism and radicalisation has just opened at the Université of Liège (ULg). Michaël Dantinne, the head of Criminology announced this on Wednesday. He is also a specialist within the parliamentary commission on the Brussels attacks. In respect of the new centre opening, this confirms information which appeared in the publication Le Soir. The aim is to respond to an inadequacy in research in this sphere, to supply ongoing training but also to provide advice.

Terrorism has taken centre stage for several months following the Paris and Brussels but also the attacks carried out in the Middle East, as with those which took place recently in Iraq and Turkey.

The phenomenon is not new but “there is a major shortage of research in the field. There is very little data available, and when it is, it is often of poor quality,” Michaël Dantinne, one of the founders of the centre explains.

By coming together in this way we will become "more competitive and reliable" when faced with those in possession of data. This will also make it possible for us to obtain finance. “A better understanding of terrorism and its issues should allow us to better avert and crack down on it,” the lecturer adds.

Four academic staff members from Liège, well used to working together, conceived the project. “We thought it a shame not to formalise our collaborative efforts,” Mr Dantinne explains. Le Soir confirms that Pierre Thys, a specialist in war crimes, Serge Garcet, a specialist in victimology and Vincent Seron, a specialist in the phenomenon of radicalisation and the prison environment, are the other three lecturers.

The research centre, incorporated into the Criminology, is also available to the Law and Political Sciences departements. “We wish to study every facet” of terrorism, such as radicalisation and delinquancy, Mr Dantinne explains. Intelligence and Islamic Studies specialists are also involved in the project.

Moreover, a training programme is planned, wishing to offer a specialism in terrorism to criminology students. “The continuous formal training programme should be implemented from January 2017,” Michaël Dantinne states.

(Source: Belga)


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