Society for Terrorism Research Conference raises key questions

The 12th Annual International Conference for the Society for Terrorism Research recently took place at LJMU’s School of Law, exploring ongoing and emerging themes on political violence and terrorism.

The Conference promoted collaboration and the exchange of ideas between academia, security and counter-terrorism practitioners and policy makers. They aimed to explore new ways of translating the results of research on terrorism and political violence for multiple audiences, agencies and communities.

Keynote speakers, Professor Neil Ferguson of Liverpool Hope University, who previously served as the Director of the Desmond Tutu Centre for War and Peace Studies, and Jo Dover of Consulting, who delivers training and consultancy services in Resilience, Mental Health, and Major Incident Response,  opened the debates and information exchanges over the two days.

Dr Donna Halliday, LJMU Lecturer in Criminal Justice, who organised the event and whose own research looks at inter-generational trauma and post-memory of political violence and terrorism, commented: “The purpose of the STR conference is to bring academics and counter-terrorism practitioners and policy makers together, to discuss, and debate the issues and challenges facing us all in combating terrorism, and its impact on individuals and communities, and perhaps one of the biggest issues we face globally as a society. The STR conference is annual event and I am very proud to have had the opportunity to host it at LJMU within the School of Law this year. It has been very well received by delegates, and highly successful in achieving its aims and objectives as a platform for bringing together leading experts in the field.