For a little while I've been working with colleagues from the University of St Andrews and openDemocracy on a project exploring whether recent revelations about state surveillance impacted how activists pursue their claims. 

As part of the research we held a workshop in London that brought together activists and academics to explore the legal, sociological, political and technological aspects of how surveillance may have impacted how activists try and promote political change. 

I'll post more about the project as we write up the findings. 

Last night TV3 screened a documentary - Ireland and the Terror Threat - in which I have a walk on part discussing the processes of engagement and disengagement from political violence. 

I was invited along to speak at a workshop on Brainwashing and hidden persuasion: A workshop on models of the mind and de-radicalisation at Birkbeck University co-organised by Counterpoint.

The workshop was connected to a wider project on brainwashing called Hidden Persuaders which looks at historical perspectives on the role of the 'psy' professions in the Cold War.

A range of speakers offered their thoughts on 'radicalisation' and 'deradicalisation'. Some of the most powerful contributions were rooted in historical and psychoanalytical perspectives that are often missing in contemporary debates on radical ideas and political violence.