Galen Lamphere-Englund

Senior P/CVE Advisor // Various Clients
Convener, Extremism & Gaming Research Network

About Me

Violent Extremism and Strategic Communications Researcher. P/CVE Practitioner. Humanitarian. Geek.

I am a senior research and strategic communications consultant at the nexus of violent extremism, conflict, and tech issues. For over a decade, I have examined how various forms of radicalization can lead to violence and terrorism, and how to foster resilience to societal divides. From analyzing genocide in Bosnia-Herzegovina to actualizing “never again” by designing policies to prevent extremist exploitation of digital spaces, I have conducted actionable research in over 30 countries for United Nations agencies, governments, think tanks, humanitarian and development NGOs, and many of the largest tech platforms.

I enjoy thinking about how to build a more inclusive, safe, and joyful world both online and IRL. Towards that end, I co-founded and convene the Extremism and Gaming Research Network (EGRN) and serve as a Preventing & Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVE) advisor to a range of clients. I regularly brief governments, the UN Security Council, and private-sector companies on how to prevent the exploitation of online spaces and ICT by extremist and terrorist actors.

I am also an Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) within the Terrorism and Conflict research group.

Previously, I have led investigations and strategic communications to prevent violent extremism and terrorism (P/CVE), as well as to support humanitarian response and human rights in countries across Southeast Asia and the Pacific, the Balkans, East Africa, and across Europe, and the US.

I have long-term management experience building teams of up to 40 people where we co-create collaborative, open environments where people are not afraid to experiment audaciously. Alongside my teams, I have produced over 200 analytical products for, among others: Meta/Facebook, Google.org, Discord, YouTube, USAID, GIZ, the British Council, DFAT/DHA, UNDP, UNOHCHR, and other UN agencies.

I hold an MA in Public Policy from Central European University, an MA in Development & Public Policy from the Institute Barcelona d’Estudis Internacionals, and BA in Global Studies from Arizona State University. Along the way, I have worked, lived, and or whistled through over 80 countries.

Research Design
Violent Extremism & Conflict Analysis
Tech, Gaming, and Digital Right Issues
OSINT Analysis
Risk Management

*Indicative findings from sample (n=1). Not representative of all (my) population of work.

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Background

I hold an MA in Public Policy from Central European University, an MA in Development & Public Policy from the Institute Barcelona d’Estudis Internacionals, and BA in Global Studies from Arizona State University. Along the way, I have worked, lived, and whistled in over 90 countries.

Selected Publications

A selection of public-facing work I have authored or edited recently.

Good Practices, Tools, and Safety Measures for [Extremism] Researchers. (2022).
The Buffalo Attack and the Gamification of Violence (Commentary). (2022).
State of Play on Gaming & Extremism - reviews the current research on the subject and sets out a research agenda for the Extremism and Gaming Research Network (2021).
Why we went to fight and why we returned: Radicalization and Deradicalisation – Learning from foreign terrorist fighters. Afsal Asraf and Indira Aslanova (2021).
Next Generation Vietnam is part of a global research series by the British Council to give voice to young people living in countries that have undergone significant social, economic, or political change (2020).
2019 Global Education Monitoring Report: Estimating the number of forcibly displaced school-age children not accessing education (2018/2019).
The Impact of COVID-19 on Terrorism and Extremism Narratives, Hedayah, 2022. Specific reports include: The Balkans (2021 / 2022), East Africa (2021 / 2022), Southeast Asia (2021 / 2022), and West Africa (2021 / 2022).
Understanding the Game: Bridging Research Gaps at the Nexus of Gaming & Extremism (GNET Insight). (2022).
Lessons on Intrafaith and Interfaith Dialogue Efforts in Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand (2021-22). Report only available on request.
Indonesian Migrant Domestic Workers in Hong Kong: A study into the challenges and opportunities for building resilience to online threats. (2020).
North Macedonia - Enhancing the Understanding of Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTF): Challenges for Rehabilitation, Resocialization, and Reintegration of Returnees in the Republic of North Macedonia (2020).
Travelers to Syria: A Criminological and Security Analysis with Special Focus on Returnees from Syrian Battlefronts (2020).

Education

Where I learned a few things along the way.

Central European Unviersity

MA in Public Policy
Honors // Erasmus Mundus Scholar

Institut Barcelona d’Estudis Internacionals

MA in Development & Public Policy
Honors // Erasmus Mundus Scholar

Arizona State University

BA in Global Studies
Summa Cum Laude Honors // Flinn Foundation & Presidential Scholar