Ahead of Graduation, Hermione Robson of the Terrorism Studies Masters Class 2024/5 reflects on the opportunity to take part in a paid internship with prestigious London think-and-do-tank, the Institute for Strategic Dialogue
Starting out as an 18-year-old studying Politics and International Relations as an undergrad at Royal Holloway, I could never have imagined how transformative the coming years would be. Beginning my MSc journey I, like many, had a rigid understanding of the concepts of terrorism and political extremism, viewing them as a product of politics, ideology and violence. But through my studies and recent internship at a think tank – a competitive process involving an interview and assignment - I’ve come to realise how dynamic such terms are.
Thinking and Doing
Think Tanks are places where real change can happen, where analysis informs public policy, government decisions and sometimes public opinion. However, the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) is more than just a think tank – it’s a ‘think and do’ tank, at the cutting edge of countering terrorism and violent extremism. Their team of research specialists, policy experts and former government and law officials ensure communities are protected, whilst safeguarding our democracy. They adapt to global events, online trends and shifting political narratives. During my time engaging with their work, I was able to immerse myself in their recent analysis of contemporary threats and specifically the relationship between terrorism, ideology, and nihilism which currently shapes our security landscape.
Nihilism or - Nihilistic Violent Extremism - signals a shift from clear political and ideological goals and towards dramatic, symbolic acts designed to evoke emotional reactions. Philosophically the term is premised on a rejection of morality and meaning, with acts of violence reflecting a belief that the world is broken, hollow, corrupt or beyond saving. Hence, popular counter-terrorism discourse now centres around the challenges faced by law enforcement to categorise this so called ‘new’ violence amid the rise in mixed, unclear and unstable belief systems (MUU), where the motive is ambiguous.
Having utilised both my studies and engaged with ISD’s insights into emerging online subcultures and com networks like 764 the rise in sextortion or the disturbing no lives matter trend, I saw how theories from my studies applied in the real world. This proved invaluable as a foundation for my own academic explorations and gave my research a new layer of urgency. It also directly contributed to my final dissertation, Britain’s evolving security landscape: an examination of mixed, unclear and unstable ideologies and the New Terrorist Threat. In it, I explored the rise of nihilistic violence in the UK- something that felt more relevant as my time with ISD coincided with the one year anniversary of the Southport Killings. Crucially, speaking with nihilism experts like Cody Zoschak who was not only researching the development but actively shaping the conversation, allowed me to refine my arguments, challenge assumptions and deepen my conclusions with active feedback. A key takeaway was realising that whilst terrorism continues to evolve and mimic our modern society, nihilism represents its own, distinct category of violence.
Putting academic skills into practice
When it came to applying myself, my communication skills, presenting briefs and ability to concisely summarise to the team were fundamental skills which I developed from my MSc, via blogs, reports and presentations in the classroom. This enabled me to translate complex information into a digestible and clear language for different audiences. Due to this, I was able to start promptly and was made to feel that my work was purposeful and contributed to the broader research process. One moment I was writing a briefing on gender-based violence online; the next I was tracking the fallout, or investigating far-right agitators at the Epping protests.
Tracking these events in real time across social media and news resources, felt both intense and exhilarating. I conducted literature reviews and summaries on the relationship between gaming platforms, extremism and gender-based violence, developing my skills in excel spreadsheets and working closely with colleagues in Ireland. I also contributed to policy briefs, produced biweekly overviews of global developments, tracking how social media was being used in ways that would directly impact social media companies and policymakers.
In particular, I was highly involved in ISD’s work responding to the Home Affairs Select Committee enquiry on ‘new forms of terrorism’. This involved considering how ISD’s evidence submission could form the basis of a more generalist policy paper. I worked on the document’s visual flow and clarity, which taught me how to translate complex research into actionable policy, whilst balancing objectivity and sensitive information. This exercise helped shape the design and development of the final public report ‘Emerging Extremism-Related Threats in the UK: Implications for Policy Responses’, which formed the evidence base ISD’s expert oral evidence provided to the committee in parliament.
With new challenges often emerging overnight – a policy announcement or a spike in online hate speech following a global event – this fast-moving environment put my academic skills to the test. Unlike the structured nature of university deadlines, where timelines are known and expectations are outlined, these real-world challenges were unpredictable, urgent and emotionally charged. Overcoming these challenges meant developing a new level of adaptability, resilience and critical thinking as I deciphered between valued information and misinformation, navigated security and ethical risks where the stakes felt high, and gained an insight into the pressures of staying relevant in a changing world.
Reflections:
Considering all this, I would like to recommend the MSc at Royal Holloway, not just as a place of study, but as the foundation for a more informed and purposeful future. From inspiring lecturers and peers to professional opportunities like this, my MSc has taught me to critically evaluate, engage and question from an array of perspectives and multidisciplinary approaches. I am especially grateful for the support and guidance that helped shape my interests in terrorism studies and political violence. The lessons I have learnt will stay with me as I move into the next chapter of my career.
Hermione Robson Is a graduate of the 2024/2025 cohort of the MSc in Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism Studies and her Dissertation title was Britian’s evolving security landscape: an examination of mixed, unclear and unstable ideologies and the New terrorist Threat.
