Political violence, terrorism, and civil conflict have seriously affected the lives of millions of people around the world. Moreover, the legacy of 9/11, the rise of groups like ISIS in Syria and Iraq, and the emergence of far-right groups in the West have brought questions about the nature, evolution, causes, consequences of and normative justifications for non-state political violence, including terrorism, to the forefront of academic, policymaking, media and popular debates. Similarly, security responses to these challenges feature prominently in global politics. Governments pursue security strategies to preserve order and protect their citizens. Yet many governments also participate in conflict and political violence by holding onto power and preserving systemic injustices.

The MA in Violence, Terrorism and Security at Queen’s University Belfast provides students the tools to understand and critically engage with these issues. It equips them with the foundations and the most up-to-date research and methodologies in the fields of terrorism studies, security studies and conflict analysis. This programme helps students develop a critical and analytical approach to the use of political violence and terrorism in history and the contemporary world.