Semarang, 2 September 2025 – The International Relations Study Program, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Diponegoro University, held a Visiting Lecturer activity with the topic “Workshop on Countering Violent Extremism in Southeast Asia: From Radicalisation to Reintegration.”

This event presented Dr. Noor Huda Ismail (Visiting Fellow, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies – RSIS, Singapore), a researcher and practitioner widely recognized for his work on radicalization, deradicalization, and the reintegration of former terrorists. The discussion was moderated by Nadia Farabi, Ph.D., lecturer of International Relations at UNDIP.

In his lecture, Dr. Noor Huda emphasized that violent extremism in Southeast Asia cannot be seen from only one perspective. The processes of radicalization, involvement, and the decision to disengage from a network are never caused by a single factor. Ideology plays a role, but is often influenced by personal conditions, social relations, and political and economic contexts. “The battlefield is no longer only on the streets, but also in the digital space—chat rooms, live streams, and virtual worlds that have become the interaction space of the young generation,” he stated.

The preliminary research findings presented showed that extremist groups often exploit social issues such as poverty and systemic injustice to attract sympathizers. Social media has also transformed the recruitment pattern from collective action to connective action. Meanwhile, regional and international conflicts have become recruitment magnets and generated the phenomenon of reciprocal radicalization, which has a real impact on regional security.

As a policy recommendation, Dr. Noor Huda highlighted the importance of producing credible counter-narratives, particularly through the voices of former members of extremist groups who have now chosen a peaceful path. He also encouraged collaboration between governments, civil society, and digital technology companies such as Facebook, Google, Twitter, and TikTok to limit the spread of online extremist narratives.

This Visiting Lecturer activity is part of the International Relations Study Program UNDIP’s efforts to broaden students’ perspectives on non-traditional security issues, particularly radicalization and deradicalization in Southeast Asia. Through this activity, students are expected to understand the real challenges of violent extremism in the region, as well as the strategic role of academics in promoting peace and social reintegration.