Radical Islamism vs the West – with Dr. Lorenzo Vidino

Extremism expert and political scientist Dr. Lorenzo Vidino joins Dr. Rachel Fish to explore the history and spread of radical Islamism and how it has taken root in Western democracies.

They trace the movement’s origins to the founding of the Muslim Brotherhood, explain the difference between Islam as a religion and Islamism as a political ideology, and discuss how Islamist groups have adapted their messages for Western audiences, especially on college campuses.

The conversation also looks at how some Islamist actors have built alliances with parts of the progressive left, the role of Gulf funding in spreading these ideas, and the challenge liberal societies face to uphold pluralism and free speech while pushing back against extremist ideologies that exploit openness to gain influence.

Guest Bio:

Dr. Lorenzo Vidino is the Director of the Program on Extremism at The George Washington University and a leading expert on Islamism in Europe and North America. His work focuses on jihadist mobilization, counter-radicalization policies, and the activities of Muslim Brotherhood-inspired networks in the West. A native of Italy and American citizen, he holds a law degree from the University of Milan and a Ph.D. from Tufts University. Dr. Vidino has held positions at Harvard, the RAND Corporation, and the U.S. Institute of Peace, and has advised governments across Europe and North America. He is the author of The New Muslim Brotherhood in the West and The Closed Circle, and his commentary appears regularly in major global media.

Further Reading:

Lorenzo Vidino, The New Muslim Brotherhood in the West (Columbia University Press, 2010)

Lorenzo Vidino, The Closed Circle: Joining and Leaving the Muslim Brotherhood in the West (Columbia University Press, 2020)