Dr. Katarzyna Maniszewska, Vice-Rector for International Relations at Collegium Civitas, is currently conducting research at the Program on Extremism at George Washington University as part of her Kosciuszko Foundation fellowship. In this interview, Dr. Maniszewska discusses her ongoing project on terrorism and the media, the impact of technological advancements on extremist organizations, and the importance of fostering Polish-American academic collaboration.
You’re currently conducting research at the Program on Extremism (PoE) at George Washington University. Could you tell us more about your specific role and the primary focus of your project, “Terrorism and the Media: New Challenges in a Shifting Paradigm”?
The preliminary title of the research paper I am working on is “Radicalization at High Speed: Terrorism and the Media in the Age of AI.” This research continues my previous work, which I have been conducting since 2002. In my book Terrorism and the Media, published in Poland in 2006, I used the case study of the German leftist organization Red Army Faction (RAF) and examined the media coverage of terrorism during the active years of RAF and the post-9/11 coverage of terrorism. The mass media analyzed at that time were primarily television and print media.
Much has changed since the first decade of the 2000s. In 2005, only about 16% of the world’s population, or approximately 1 billion people, had access to the internet. As of 2023, that number has grown to 5.4 billion people or 67% of the world’s population. Still, 2.6 billion people remain digitally excluded. A limitation of the research is that many findings only apply to digitally included individuals, particularly the target groups of terrorist and extremist actors. As a research method, I chose desk research (and here at PoE, I have access to excellent sources), supplemented by semi-structured expert interviews.
Your research explores the role of media in the strategies of terrorist organizations. How do you think the relationship between media and terrorism has evolved in recent years, especially with the rise of digital platforms and AI?
Well, let me start by stating that an inherent feature of terrorism is the intention to influence public opinion through the mass media. Terrorists need the media to generate fear, destabilize opponents’ societies and groups, and present their message to the public. The group of victims of terrorist activities is not limited to those directly affected by a given event, because through ‘proxy-victimization,’ the group expands and can, in fact, be global in the era of online globalization, especially when combined with traditional media coverage.
The essence of the terrorism-media relationship is perhaps best captured by quotes from Brian M. Jenkins: “Terrorism is theater. Terrorists want a lot of people watching, not a lot of people dead,” and Margaret Thatcher: “We must try to find ways to starve the terrorist and the hijacker of the oxygen of publicity on which they depend.” Both quotes remain relevant today.
However, in my current research, I take a closer look at the modus operandi and its shifts alongside technological progress harnessed by terrorists. Terrorist organizations may be among the greatest beneficiaries of the digital revolution. In the era of social media and due to the widespread availability of technical equipment enabling the recording and transmission of messages, as well as the creation of content by Artificial Intelligence, anyone can become a quasi-professional content creator—terrorists and their sympathizers included.
In the 21st century, political extremists not only have the favor of some traditional media outlets, but they also have their own media outlets, social media channels, and groups, which allow them to design and control the communication process to a much greater extent. This has given them a powerful instrument to increase their influence on public opinion.
You’ve mentioned that one of the objectives of your project is to develop evidence-based guidelines for anti-terrorism efforts. Could you elaborate on how you envision these guidelines being applied in practice, particularly in terms of building societal resilience?
Technologies are just a tool. They can be used by terrorists, but they can also be used by civil society organizations and central and local authorities to help prevent and counter-terrorism. To effectively counter terrorism, we need an informed and educated society that won’t be as susceptible to radicalization and the psychological effects of terrorism as we currently observe.
I hope the results of my research will be discussed by fellow experts and potentially inspire decision-makers, as well as colleagues in academia. One of my concrete proposals is the development of a university-level syllabus, which would be disseminated under a Creative Commons license. This syllabus could be adopted and adapted by faculty members worldwide and would highlight the mechanisms exploited by terrorists, raising awareness among students.
What is crucial is that the materials would be relevant to violent extremism and terrorism regardless of ideology—whether it’s left-wing, right-wing, jihadist, or any other type—since there are common patterns that can be observed.
The Kosciuszko Foundation fellowship offers a unique opportunity to collaborate with experts in your field. How has your interaction with researchers at the Program on Extremism impacted your research approach or provided new insights?
That is very true—the Kosciuszko Foundation fellowship is a unique opportunity to meet world-class experts, exchange views, gain new perspectives, and participate in activities such as trainings and seminars they organize for various audiences. It has definitely served as inspiration for my research, and my colleagues here are very helpful and always open to discussing my preliminary research findings.
As the Vice-Rector for International Relations at Collegium Civitas, how do you think international exchanges like the Kosciuszko Foundation fellowship benefit not only individual scholars but also their home institutions?
The Kosciuszko Foundation fellowships are competitive. For the home institution, it serves as a token of recognition that their scholars are among those awarded. Specifically in the context of Collegium Civitas, I am using the fellowship to establish new contacts and further existing partnerships.
For example, I am meeting with Mrs. Renee Stillings, the Director of SRAS, which is our partner institution in the summer school program “Security and Society in the Information Age.” Collegium Civitas has been conducting summer school courses for American students for the past 10 years. With Director Stillings, we will discuss the prospective development of the program and participate in meetings with universities.
Another example is the double degree diploma with West Virginia University that Collegium Civitas offers. I will use my stay in the U.S. for working meetings with the WVU coordinator of the double degree, Prof. James Siekmeier. I will also give a guest lecture at the Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences in America.
These are just a few examples. The Kosciuszko Foundation fellowship offers countless possibilities to further Polish-American cooperation in academia.
The application process for next year’s fellowship is now open, with a deadline of November 15th. For potential applicants to the Kosciuszko Foundation fellowship, what advice would you give to those considering applying?
I believe the aspects related to the added value of the fellowship are important. The fellowship is not only about your research or teaching at an American university; it is also part of public diplomacy efforts aimed at strengthening collaboration between Poland and the U.S. in academia and beyond.
Finally, what are your plans once you complete your fellowship? Do you foresee continuing this line of research or applying the knowledge gained here to new projects at Collegium Civitas?
Definitely, I intend to further my research. I hope the lessons learned and knowledge gained here will be useful for the work of the Terrorism Research Center at Collegium Civitas, as well as for other professional associations I am a member of. Additionally, in my capacity as Vice-Rector, I will certainly build on the results of the fellowship to further develop Collegium Civitas’ collaboration with U.S. academia, which has been one of the pillars of our university’s internationalization strategy.
Interview conducted by Agnieszka Mrowińska, Collegium Civitas, Expert. International Cooperation Coordinator.