Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Public seminar to debate the 'war on terror'
Paul Rogers, Professor of Peace Studies at the University of Bradford, will present his talk, ‘Islamic State - origins, evolution and future potential’ at the University’s Rose Bowl from 3-4.30pm. Places can be booked at http://ceasrislamicstate.eventbrite.co.uk.
It is now fourteen years since the ‘war on terror’ began, following the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States, with a new front opening in Libya, intensive air raids in Syria and Iraq, continuing violence in Afghanistan, a worsening security situation in Nigeria and high levels of alert in Western Europe.
In Professor Rogers’s lecture he will argue that something has gone badly wrong with the western way of war. Focusing particularly on Islamic State, he will try to put this in the context of the evolution of extreme Islamist groups and the seeming failure of Western security to understand what is happening.
Dr Rachel Julian, organiser of the seminar, commented: “Paul is speaking about such a relevant and hotly-debated topic that I am sure we will have a great debate. Paul is one of the leading experts on global security and it is wonderful that he will be speaking here at Leeds Beckett. I look forward to hearing a great argument and having the chance to discuss the challenges of Islamic State with staff, students and the public.”
Dr Paul Wetherly, Reader in Politics at Leeds Beckett, added: “The subject of Professor Rogers’s talk is of great importance as it appears that Western governments do not have a clear understanding of the origins, evolution and future potential of Islamic State. Such understanding is essential in order to tackle the threat that the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) presents in Iraq, Syria and the wider region, and to counter the appeal of its extremist message to small numbers of European citizens.”
Professor Paul Rogers began his career in the biological and environmental sciences, including lecturing at Imperial College, London, and has worked for the past 35 years in international security. He is a consultant to the Oxford Research Group, an independent UK think tank, writes on international security issues for www.opendemocracy.net/ and is a frequent broadcaster. The most recent of his 26 books is the third edition of Losing Control: Global Security in the 21st Century.