The Intersection of Cults and Violent Extremism

Based in Germany, Dr. Koehler conducts research on terrorism, radicalization, and de-radicalization (right-wing, left-wing, and Islamic extremism) processes and programs; has worked in the field on de-radicalization involving family counselors in multiple programs for over 12 years; developed methodologies for de-radicalization; in 2014 Co-founder of the first peer-reviewed open access journal on de-radicalization (The Journal for Deradicalization, www.journal-derad.com), founded with the German Institute for Radicalization and De-radicalization Studies (GIRDS) in 2014; first courtroom expert on de-radicalization in the United States District Court in Minneapolis in 2016; first courtroom expert on de-radicalization in First court expert; Editorial Board Member of the International Center for Counterterrorism in The Hague in July 2017; Research Fellow at the Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab (PERIL) at American University in Washington, DC in November 2019; and in the United Kingdom in 2022. He was also appointed Associate Fellow at the Royal United Service Institute (RUSI), a dual appointment. D. (Political Science, Princeton University). His most recent publication is From Traitor to Zealot: Exploring the Phenomenon of Side-Switching in Extremism and Terrorism (Cambridge University).

Professor Nishida specializes in social psychology and conducts research on mind control issues. He is a former president of the Japan Group Dynamics Association, a research partner of the United Nations Security Council's Executive Committee on Counterterrorism, and a representative director of the Japan Association for the Exclusion of Cults. He has served as an expert witness in the Aum Shinrikyo case and has been summoned to trial courts on numerous occasions. He has given commentary in the media and spoken at numerous lectures and symposiums sponsored by the national government and government agencies throughout Japan. He has also served as a member of the Consumer Affairs Agency's "Study Group on Countermeasures against Malicious Business Practices such as Psychic Sales" and "Study Group on Stealth Marketing," both of which were established in response to the shooting incident involving former Prime Minister Abe. D. (Sociology, Kansai University Graduate School). His major publications include "What is Mind Control?" (Kinokuniya Shoten), "Why are people manipulated and controlled?" (Sakura-sha), and "Tricks of deceit: Laws of the mind you must know" (PHP Shinsho).

Professor Ogawa joined the Japan Foundation in 1982 and served as Director of the Foundation's New Delhi Office, Secretary General of the Japan-America Center, Director of the Southeast Asia Directorate (Jakarta), and Director of the Planning Department before assuming his current position in 2017. D. (International Relations, Waseda University). His major publications include "Indonesia: The Search for a Multi-ethnic State" (Iwanami Shinsho), "What is Fundamentalism? From America, the Middle East to Japan" (Kodansha Gendai Shinsho), "Indonesia: The Changing Face of an Islamic Power" (Shincho Sensho), and "Self-Searching Asian Nations" (Akashi Shoten).