Counter Extremism Perspectives

Dr Hans-Jakob Schindler and Alexander Ritzmann are joined by journalist and author Nicholas Potter—who has faced death threats and intimidation because of his work—to discuss the rise in left-wing extremism and antisemitism. They talk about groups on the left that put aside ideological differences to create larger networks united in anti-democratic, illiberal and antisemitic causes. Further reading: The New Authoritarian Left: An Acute Threat to Democratic Society by Nicholas Potter.

Dr Hans-Jakob Schindler and Alexander Ritzmann discuss Alexander’s new Counter Extremism Project Policy Brief on Active Clubs (ACs) and the main strategic propaganda messages by the network’s co-founder and figurehead Robert Rundo since his public return in June 2025. ACs are a decentralized, transnational violent network of white supremacist groups that publicly promote combat sports, fitness training, and white brotherhood.Read Alexander Ritzmann’s Policy Brief: Return of the Leader - Robert Rundo´s Impact on the Violent Extreme-Right Active Club Network

Dr Hans-Jakob Schindler and Alexander Ritzmann are joined by JJ Green—journalist and author of The Noise War—to unpack the mechanics of disinformation: how to spot it, why it works, how it corrodes trust and fractures nations, and what can be done to fight back in an age of constant information warfare.JJ Green is the National Security Correspondent at WTOP and the author of The Noise War: How to Fight Disinformation and Find the Truth When Everything Is Lying to You—a frontline guide to navigating a world where truth is under sustained attack.

Dr Hans-Jakob Schindler and Alexander Ritzmann are joined by Sean McCafferty to discuss how the October 7 attacks changed online extremism, including Islamic State’s (IS) response. Since IS lost its final territorial holdout in Baghuz, Syria, in March 2019, the group’s global presence, propaganda output, and online ecosystem have evolved significantly, including to a more decentralised approach, characterised by a surge in output from its regional affiliates in Africa and South Asia.Sean is EU GLOCTER PhD Fellow, seconded to CEP and author of a blog post on Islamic State Propaganda Evolution Since October 7 which is part of CEP’s CounterPoint series. 

Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler and Alexander Ritzmann are joined once again by Elena Martynova to explore two underexamined areas of terrorist financing: the targeting of individuals through sophisticated scam operations and the growing exploitation of the sports sector as a financial vehicle. Drawing on Elena’s recent CEP blogs, they examine how extremist groups increasingly leverage fraud schemes, online betting, and parts of the wider sports industry to generate funds—and what this means for policymakers and practitioners working to disrupt these evolving financial networks.Elena’s CEP blogs:Terrorist Financing Through Scams: Current Evidence and Emerging Risks and The Overlooked Nexus between Sports and Extremism Financing

Dr Hans-Jakob Schindler and Alexander Ritzmann are joined by Elena Martynova to explore how Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) has reshaped the fight against extremism—revealing hidden networks, exposing propaganda, and bringing new information to conflict zones. Yet the same open data—and now artificial intelligence—that empowers investigators is increasingly being weaponized by extremist actors. Together, they unpack how OSINT has become both a vital tool and a contested battleground. Elena is an EU GLOCTER PhD Candidate on secondment to CEP.This discussion is based on Elena's blog series for CEP on various aspects of OSINT.

Dr Hans-Jakob Schindler and Alexander Ritzmann are joined by investigative journalist Joseph Röhmel to discuss terrorism financing in Germany. Joseph is author of a major ARD/BR documentary on attacks like those carried out by the so-called Islamic State or Hamas which demonstrate with brutal force that terror is possible anytime, anywhere. The shocking answer to the question of how such terrorist attacks are fincanced lies within Germany itself. This podcast is recorded in German. Documentary (in German): Watch here.Terrorism Financing: CEP Analysis

Dr Hans-Jakob Schindler and Alexander Ritzmann are joined by Sean McCafferty to discuss how the Al-Qassam Brigade managed and adjusted its online propaganda strategy pre- and post-October 7th. Sean is EU GLOCTER PhD Fellow, seconded to CEP and author of a series of three blogs on:Al-Qassam Brigades Propaganda: Evolution Since October 7The blogs focus on Content; Dissemination; and Policy Implicationshttps://www.counterextremism.com/blog/al-qassam-brigades-propaganda-content-evolution-october-7

This episode discusses a recent CEP blog series on the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP) — a Uyghur jihadist group affiliated with al-Qaeda and closely aligned with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in Syria. With HTS now leading Syria’s transitional government and TIP integrated into the new Syrian Armed Forces, understanding their relationship is critical to assessing the terrorism risks emerging from post-Assad Syria. Dr Hans-Jakob Schindler in conversation with Karl Finke, author of the blog series.

Dr Hans-Jakob Schindler and Alexander Ritzmann are joined by Franziska Sittig, co-author of a new book Intellectual Self-Destruction: How the West Gambles Away Its Future to discuss how Western academia is at a turning point, leaning toward organized activist radicalization, ideological extremism, and antisemitism. Franziska draws on her own experience at university and Hans and Alexander discuss how CEP's research identifies ways to counter this worrying trend. 

Dr Hans-Jakob Schindler and Alexander Ritzmann discuss the current rise of Neo-Nazi youth across Germany, their resemblance to the “Kameradschaft” (comradeship) movement of the 1990s and 2000s, the strategies that dominate the violent mobilization of young people and how they can be countered. The CEP Policy Brief under discussion, and the podcast are in German, and the accompanying blog is in English.Blog (in English): Party, Brawls, and Posts: The New Neo-Nazi Youth Scene in GermanyPolicy Brief (in German):https://www.counterextremism.com/sites/default/files/2025-05/Neue%20Nazi-Jugend%20%20CEP%20Policy%20Brief%2009.05.2025.pdf

Dr Hans-Jakob Schindler and Alexander Ritzmann explore the deepening ties between right-wing extremists and organized crime across Europe. Drawing on CEP’s research, they reveal how groups like the Bandidos and Turonen operate as Neo-Nazi mafias, dealing in drugs, weapons, and money laundering, while law enforcement often misses ideological links due to structural blind spots.Report: The Transnational Nexus of Violence-Oriented Right-Wing Extremism, Terrorism, and Organized CrimeBlog: Guns, Drugs, and Swastikas: Europe’s Neo-Nazi Mafias

Join hosts Alexander Ritzmann and Dr Hans-Jakob Schindler as they pull back the curtain on the Active Clubs. Ostensibly dedicated to sports and self-defense, these groups craft a deceptive image designed to keep law enforcement at bay. Yet beneath the facade lies a network involved in low-level crime and violence—with ambitions to build militias and expand operations across more than 23 countries. In this episode, we explore how these organizations really work and discuss how law enforcement can monitor and curtail their activities.Read more on our website: https://www.counterextremism.com/

Dr Hans-Jakob Schindler and Alexander Ritzmann discuss CEP's new initiative the Auschwitz Research Center on Hate, Extremism and Radicalization (ARCHER) which will be based in the home of the former Commandant of Auschwitz. The center will use its base to take action against the rising global tide of antisemitism and extremism. The discussion in this episode is in German.

The fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria was sudden and not predicted and presents significant challenges to the international community. Could it lead to the re-emergence, for example, of ISIS, and what are the implications for Russia and Iran as strong backers of Assad? Dr Hans-Jakob Schindler and Alexander Ritzmann discuss the risks and narratives associated with these major developments.

The discussion in this first episode is based on CEP's publication 'Identifying and Disrupting Key Antisemitic Actors: A Five Step Guide' by Alexander Ritzmann, with a focus on how policymakers can consider and implement a risk-based and disruption-oriented approach to the post-October 7, global rise in antisemitism.