Ross Frenett is co-Founder and Director of Moonshot CVE, a specialist organisation which develops innovative and emerging methodologies to counter violent extremism. Ross previously served as Director of the Against Violent Extremism (AVE) network, a global network of former extremists and survivors of violent extremism seeded by Google Ideas and managed by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue. Throughout his career Ross has worked to bring technology to bear on the issue of violent extremism, developing online social networks, piloting new methodologies in delivering positive content to vulnerable individuals online and pioneering an entirely new sector in CVE, online interventions. Ross previously worked as a consultant in Deloitte's Technology Integration practice.
Overview An interview with Vidhya Ramalingam and Ross Frenett about countering violent extremism ... more Overview An interview with Vidhya Ramalingam and Ross Frenett about countering violent extremism (CVE), which refers to non-coercive efforts to help prevent involvement in terrorism. Ross and Vidhya previously worked for organisations such as the Institute for Strategic Dialogue and Google Ideas. They recently founded their their own organisation, Moonshot CVE, building on their work with former violent extremists and experiences in the tech sector. In the interview, we discuss the concept of countering violent extremism, the value of work and research in this area, but also some of the dilemmas and risks involved. The interview covers similarities and differences between various types of violent extremist groups, the ways that governments across Europe understand the issue, the rise of far-right violent extremism and the role of women in the Islamic State. We also discussed past projects that Vidhya and Ross have been involved in, their work with former violent extremists, the impo...
Foreign Fighters under International Law and Beyond, 2016
The phenomenon of foreign fighters predates ISIS. Islamist extremist, far left, far right, and et... more The phenomenon of foreign fighters predates ISIS. Islamist extremist, far left, far right, and ethno nationalist groups have recruited individuals to fight for their cause overseas. This chapter aims to use empirical evidence to add to the currently understudied body of literature regarding what drives an individual to fight in a foreign conflict. Although this chapter was built on an understanding of the secondary literature, it was primarily informed by a series of interviews carried out with individuals that have personally experienced or intended to engage in foreign fighter travel, from former members of the Provisional IRA through to former members of Jihadist organisations. This chapter suggests that there are three prevailing motivations that drive an individual to want to fight overseas: outrage at what is taking place in the country they wish to travel to, adherence to the ideology of the group they wish to join, and a search for identity and meaning in their personal lives.
There are growing fears among western governments about the threat posed by so-called ‘foreign fi... more There are growing fears among western governments about the threat posed by so-called ‘foreign fighters’ whose western citizens travel to far off conflict zones in order to participate as combatants. Although this process has a long and varied history in the West, stretching as far back as the Spanish civil war, in recent decades it has become an almost entirely Muslim phenomenon. This paper addresses the nature and scale of the foreign - fighters problem, and looks at how counter - narratives can help solve it.
This report details the results of the One to One pilot project, which utilised online platforms ... more This report details the results of the One to One pilot project, which utilised online platforms to directly intervene with those at risk of falling into the orbit of violent extremists. The report assesses the viability of the methodology used, outlines lessons learned and invites other organisations to critique and replicate these results.
This report focuses on those women that have travelled from the West to ISIS held territory in su... more This report focuses on those women that have travelled from the West to ISIS held territory in support of the terrorist organisation. The first in a series of reports, this research draws on our database of known female migrants to ISIS and analyses their reasons for joining the group, the threat they pose and how to stem the flow of women joining ISIS
The phenomenon of foreign fighters predates ISIS. Islamist extremist, far left, far right, and et... more The phenomenon of foreign fighters predates ISIS. Islamist extremist, far left, far right, and ethno nationalist groups have recruited individuals to fight for their cause overseas. This chapter aims to use empirical evidence to add to the currently understudied body of literature regarding what drives an individual to fight in a foreign conflict. Although this chapter was built on an understanding of the secondary literature, it was primarily informed by a series of interviews carried out with individuals that have personally experienced or intended to engage in foreign fighter travel, from former members of the Provisional IRA through to former members of Jihadist organisations. This chapter suggests that there are three prevailing motivations that drive an individual to want to fight overseas: outrage at what is taking place in the country they wish to travel to, adherence to the ideology of the group they wish to join, and a search for identity and meaning in their personal lives.
Current members of the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) claim that the Ulster Volunteer Force (UV... more Current members of the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) claim that the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and the short lived Volunteer Political Party (VPP), an early incarnation of the PUP, were socialist organisations. This dissertation testS this claim and analyses the extent to which ‘the Troubles’ led to the emergence of a working-class consciousness among Protestants.
Overview An interview with Vidhya Ramalingam and Ross Frenett about countering violent extremism ... more Overview An interview with Vidhya Ramalingam and Ross Frenett about countering violent extremism (CVE), which refers to non-coercive efforts to help prevent involvement in terrorism. Ross and Vidhya previously worked for organisations such as the Institute for Strategic Dialogue and Google Ideas. They recently founded their their own organisation, Moonshot CVE, building on their work with former violent extremists and experiences in the tech sector. In the interview, we discuss the concept of countering violent extremism, the value of work and research in this area, but also some of the dilemmas and risks involved. The interview covers similarities and differences between various types of violent extremist groups, the ways that governments across Europe understand the issue, the rise of far-right violent extremism and the role of women in the Islamic State. We also discussed past projects that Vidhya and Ross have been involved in, their work with former violent extremists, the impo...
Foreign Fighters under International Law and Beyond, 2016
The phenomenon of foreign fighters predates ISIS. Islamist extremist, far left, far right, and et... more The phenomenon of foreign fighters predates ISIS. Islamist extremist, far left, far right, and ethno nationalist groups have recruited individuals to fight for their cause overseas. This chapter aims to use empirical evidence to add to the currently understudied body of literature regarding what drives an individual to fight in a foreign conflict. Although this chapter was built on an understanding of the secondary literature, it was primarily informed by a series of interviews carried out with individuals that have personally experienced or intended to engage in foreign fighter travel, from former members of the Provisional IRA through to former members of Jihadist organisations. This chapter suggests that there are three prevailing motivations that drive an individual to want to fight overseas: outrage at what is taking place in the country they wish to travel to, adherence to the ideology of the group they wish to join, and a search for identity and meaning in their personal lives.
There are growing fears among western governments about the threat posed by so-called ‘foreign fi... more There are growing fears among western governments about the threat posed by so-called ‘foreign fighters’ whose western citizens travel to far off conflict zones in order to participate as combatants. Although this process has a long and varied history in the West, stretching as far back as the Spanish civil war, in recent decades it has become an almost entirely Muslim phenomenon. This paper addresses the nature and scale of the foreign - fighters problem, and looks at how counter - narratives can help solve it.
This report details the results of the One to One pilot project, which utilised online platforms ... more This report details the results of the One to One pilot project, which utilised online platforms to directly intervene with those at risk of falling into the orbit of violent extremists. The report assesses the viability of the methodology used, outlines lessons learned and invites other organisations to critique and replicate these results.
This report focuses on those women that have travelled from the West to ISIS held territory in su... more This report focuses on those women that have travelled from the West to ISIS held territory in support of the terrorist organisation. The first in a series of reports, this research draws on our database of known female migrants to ISIS and analyses their reasons for joining the group, the threat they pose and how to stem the flow of women joining ISIS
The phenomenon of foreign fighters predates ISIS. Islamist extremist, far left, far right, and et... more The phenomenon of foreign fighters predates ISIS. Islamist extremist, far left, far right, and ethno nationalist groups have recruited individuals to fight for their cause overseas. This chapter aims to use empirical evidence to add to the currently understudied body of literature regarding what drives an individual to fight in a foreign conflict. Although this chapter was built on an understanding of the secondary literature, it was primarily informed by a series of interviews carried out with individuals that have personally experienced or intended to engage in foreign fighter travel, from former members of the Provisional IRA through to former members of Jihadist organisations. This chapter suggests that there are three prevailing motivations that drive an individual to want to fight overseas: outrage at what is taking place in the country they wish to travel to, adherence to the ideology of the group they wish to join, and a search for identity and meaning in their personal lives.
Current members of the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) claim that the Ulster Volunteer Force (UV... more Current members of the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) claim that the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and the short lived Volunteer Political Party (VPP), an early incarnation of the PUP, were socialist organisations. This dissertation testS this claim and analyses the extent to which ‘the Troubles’ led to the emergence of a working-class consciousness among Protestants.
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three prevailing motivations that drive an individual to want to fight overseas: outrage at what is taking place in the country they wish to travel to, adherence to the ideology of the group they wish to join, and a search for identity and meaning in
their personal lives.
Drafts by Ross Frenett
three prevailing motivations that drive an individual to want to fight overseas: outrage at what is taking place in the country they wish to travel to, adherence to the ideology of the group they wish to join, and a search for identity and meaning in
their personal lives.