Former Extremists in Preventing and Countering Violence

Ryan Scrivens, assistant professor in the School of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University, delivers the WMU Ethics Center's 2025 Winnie Veenstra Peace Lecture.

It is now common for initiatives aimed at preventing violence to utilize former extremists – not only in the United States but around the globe. Such efforts are largely the result of ongoing threats to public safety, with some of most recent examples including the assassination attempts on President-elect Trump, threats against elected officials, worries about election violence, and the growing approval among the public for political violence. Scrivens will discuss how researchers, practitioners, and policymakers have utilized the insights and experiences of former extremists to prevent and counter violent extremism. He will highlight the strengths, limitations, and ethical concerns associated with such efforts, concluding with recommendations. Co-sponsor: Department of Sociology.