Dr Nafees Hamid

Dr Nafees Hamid is a cognitive scientist specialising in extremism, conspiracy theories, and political violence, renowned for conducting the first-ever neuroscience studies on violent extremists. As Research and Policy Director of XCEPT at King's College London and Senior Research Fellow at the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation, he has interviewed jihadists, white nationalists, and QAnon devotees across multiple continents, and now leads multi-nation research exploring trauma and mental health in conflict-affected states. His advisory work spans the United Nations, NATO, and governments worldwide, whilst his forthcoming book *The Extremist Mind* will equip audiences with practical insights into understanding radicalisation and countering the drift towards political violence in modern society.

Dr Nafees Hamid sat across from jihadists in Barcelona, white nationalists in the American South, and QAnon devotees online, asking questions most researchers would never dare to pose. These face-to-face encounters form the foundation of his pioneering work in understanding political violence, and they led him to conduct the first neuroscience studies ever performed on violent extremists. Now, as Research and Policy Director of XCEPT in the Department of War Studies at King's College London and Senior Research Fellow at the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation, he co-leads multi-nation research spanning Western Europe, the Balkans, the Middle East, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and Colombia, examining how trauma and mental health intersect with social structures to determine whether fragile societies move towards peace or violence.

His work has shaped counter-terrorism strategies and rehabilitation programmes across continents. Governments and international bodies including the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, NATO, the EU Commission, the US State and Defence Departments, the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, the UK Home Office, and the French Prime Minister's Office have sought his counsel on preventing violent extremism and reintegrating former fighters. His research on the neuroscience of terrorism earned him and his colleagues a profile in TIME magazine, whilst his analysis has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and The New York Review of Books. He has featured in documentaries for Netflix, National Geographic, and Vice, and made appearances on the BBC, CNN, and MSNBC, translating complex cognitive science into accessible insights that challenge how we think about radicalisation.

Dr Hamid's forthcoming book, *The Extremist Mind*, publishing in 2026 via Bloomsbury Sigma and BenBella, weaves together memoir, evolutionary psychology, and fieldwork to reveal how extreme ideology creeps into mainstream society and what steps can counteract this drift towards political violence. Audiences leave his presentations with practical frameworks for recognising the warning signs of radicalisation within their own organisations and communities, understanding the psychological mechanisms that make conspiracist thinking so compelling, and implementing evidence-based approaches to foster resilience against extremism. His ability to ground neuroscience and cognitive research in real human stories enables leaders, policymakers, and professionals to grasp not just why people become radicalised, but how to interrupt these pathways before violence takes hold.