Professor Neil Ferguson from the Psychology Department has been awarded a grant from the British Academy/Leverhulme Trust to fund his research with former combatants in Northern Ireland.
His programme of research will explore the drivers and barriers to disengagement from violent extremism in Northern Ireland amongst former combatants now involved in conflict transformation, de-radicalisation and peace-building work.
The study will also explore the conflict transformation activities the participants are involved in to gain a better understanding of this work, and the impact it is having within communities of former combatants and beyond.
Research findings generated by this project will assist in the promotion of conflict transformation and peace building in Northern Ireland. It will also contribute to the wider debates and policy discussions about the reintegration and de-radicalization of former combatants and violent extremists.