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Two of the world’s leading experts on terrorism Professor Richard English and the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford Professor Louise Richardson look at the history of terrorism and ask whether it actually works. This is the inaugural lecture in a new series in which the vice-chancellor of the University of Oxford invites an eminent figure to be in conversation with her.

English, professor of politics and distinguished professorial fellow in the George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice at Queen’s University Belfast, has been studying terrorism for 30 years. In his new book, Does Terrorism Work? A History, he says that the key question about whether it works or not has not been examined in depth. He looks at some of the major terrorist organisations of the last 50 years, including al-Qaida, the IRA, Hamas and ETA, and argues that we need a far more honest understanding of the degree to which terrorism works.

Richardson became the first woman to hold the post of vice-chancellor of the University of Oxford when she began her appointment in 2016. She specialises in the study of terrorism and her books include Democracy and Counterterrorism: Lessons from the Past; What Terrorists Want: Understanding the Enemy, Containing the Threat; The Roots of Terrorism; and When Allies Differ. Her work on terrorism has won numerous awards including the Sumner Prize for work towards the prevention of war and the establishment of universal peace.

In association with the British Academy.

Supported by Lady Hatch.