Conference Presentations by Oliver J Smith
We wish to share our experiences from within an ex-cult member group in order to provoke discussi... more We wish to share our experiences from within an ex-cult member group in order to provoke discussion and consolidate our journey thus far. The group is made up of a dozen or so ex-members—both first and second-generation—from various cults and has been active for several years. The group is mainly for support and education with the educational aspects being central to each meeting. Our poster contains a description of the ex-cult member group, observations from regular participants and an overview of our plans for the future. This poster represents an effort to achieve transparency and provide room for individual expression – things that were sorely lacking in the cultic groups we used to be part of.
[Poster presented at 2015 Annual Conference of International Cultic Studies Association, Stockholm]
Papers by Oliver J Smith
International Cultic Studies Association (YouTube channel), 2017
Interviewer: Oliver J. Smith (psychology student at Cambridge University) //
Prof Roger Griffin ... more Interviewer: Oliver J. Smith (psychology student at Cambridge University) //
Prof Roger Griffin is one of the world’s foremost experts on the socio-historical and ideological dynamics of fascism, as well as the relationship of various forms of fanaticism, and in particular contemporary terrorism, to Modernity. He has made a number of contributions to a humanistic understanding of terrorist radicalisation and the identification of the processes involved in de-radicalisation. Prof Griffin wrote a book called Terrorist’s Creed, published in 2012, which outlines a lot of his thinking on this subject; Oliver Smith asked him about the relevance of cults to terrorist groups, when considered as devices for achieving meaning, in particular.
International Cultic Studies Association (YouTube channel), 2017
Interviewer: Oliver J. Smith (psychology student at Cambridge University) //
Dr Florence Gaub ... more Interviewer: Oliver J. Smith (psychology student at Cambridge University) //
Dr Florence Gaub is a Senior Analyst at the European Union Institute for Security Studies where she heads the Middle East and North Africa programme. In her work, she focuses on conflict, strategy and security, with particular emphasis on Iraq, Lebanon and Libya; she also works on Arab military forces more generally, conflict structures and geostrategic dimensions of the Arab region. Dr Gaub wrote a paper called, ‘The Cult of ISIS’ which was published in Survival: Global Politics and Strategy in early 2016. Oliver Smith asked Dr Gaub about the links that can be made between cults and terrorist groups, and the strategic implications of these links.
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Conference Presentations by Oliver J Smith
[Poster presented at 2015 Annual Conference of International Cultic Studies Association, Stockholm]
Papers by Oliver J Smith
Prof Roger Griffin is one of the world’s foremost experts on the socio-historical and ideological dynamics of fascism, as well as the relationship of various forms of fanaticism, and in particular contemporary terrorism, to Modernity. He has made a number of contributions to a humanistic understanding of terrorist radicalisation and the identification of the processes involved in de-radicalisation. Prof Griffin wrote a book called Terrorist’s Creed, published in 2012, which outlines a lot of his thinking on this subject; Oliver Smith asked him about the relevance of cults to terrorist groups, when considered as devices for achieving meaning, in particular.
Dr Florence Gaub is a Senior Analyst at the European Union Institute for Security Studies where she heads the Middle East and North Africa programme. In her work, she focuses on conflict, strategy and security, with particular emphasis on Iraq, Lebanon and Libya; she also works on Arab military forces more generally, conflict structures and geostrategic dimensions of the Arab region. Dr Gaub wrote a paper called, ‘The Cult of ISIS’ which was published in Survival: Global Politics and Strategy in early 2016. Oliver Smith asked Dr Gaub about the links that can be made between cults and terrorist groups, and the strategic implications of these links.
[Poster presented at 2015 Annual Conference of International Cultic Studies Association, Stockholm]
Prof Roger Griffin is one of the world’s foremost experts on the socio-historical and ideological dynamics of fascism, as well as the relationship of various forms of fanaticism, and in particular contemporary terrorism, to Modernity. He has made a number of contributions to a humanistic understanding of terrorist radicalisation and the identification of the processes involved in de-radicalisation. Prof Griffin wrote a book called Terrorist’s Creed, published in 2012, which outlines a lot of his thinking on this subject; Oliver Smith asked him about the relevance of cults to terrorist groups, when considered as devices for achieving meaning, in particular.
Dr Florence Gaub is a Senior Analyst at the European Union Institute for Security Studies where she heads the Middle East and North Africa programme. In her work, she focuses on conflict, strategy and security, with particular emphasis on Iraq, Lebanon and Libya; she also works on Arab military forces more generally, conflict structures and geostrategic dimensions of the Arab region. Dr Gaub wrote a paper called, ‘The Cult of ISIS’ which was published in Survival: Global Politics and Strategy in early 2016. Oliver Smith asked Dr Gaub about the links that can be made between cults and terrorist groups, and the strategic implications of these links.