The inaugural ICPVTR Symposium on Terrorism Research is an initiative by the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR), a constituent unit of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS). The symposium aims to bring together and provide a credible research-sharing platform for young or newly established analysts and scholars who are working on terrorism and violent extremism research.

The theme for the 2025 Symposium is “Terrorism in Transition: New Challenges in a Declining Threat Environment”, reflecting the shifting dynamics of terrorism in Southeast Asia, characterised by a general decline in physical terrorist threats. Recent developments, such as the disbandment of Jemaah Islamiyah in Indonesia and the unprecedented surrenders of terrorists in the Philippines—culminating in the declaration of “Abu Sayyaf-free” zones in Sulu and parts of Basilan—highlight a region in transition. And yet, it is still too early to say that the threat has been dealt a deathly blow due to the persistent threat arising from online radicalisation, self-radicalised individuals and the creeping influence of far-right extremist ideology into parts of regional communities. Against this background, this symposium encourages analysts and scholars to explore emerging, dimensions of terrorism in Southeast Asia. These may include the challenges of repatriating Southeast Asian foreign fighters, the reintegration of incarcerated terrorists into society, terrorist infiltration into mainstream organisations or politics, technology-extremism nexus, and others.

The theme, “Terrorism in Transition: New Challenges in a Declining Threat Environment” is intentionally broad, encouraging creative interpretations to attract diverse research interests. By fostering multidisciplinary discussions and innovative approaches, the symposium aspires to advance the academic understanding of terrorism while informing policy and practice in the region.

Analysts and scholars are invited to submit original research papers with abstracts in English for consideration at the symposium. The selected papers will be presented at the symposium in-person in Singapore, with accommodation and flight costs covered, and the finalised papers will be compiled into an RSIS Monograph titled “Terrorism in Transition”. This publication aims to disseminate the insights and research findings presented at the symposium to a wider academic and practitioner audience.

Research papers should not exceed 2,000 words (excluding references) and must reflect high standards of academic writing, critical analysis, and methodological rigour. The accompanying abstracts should be 150-200 words. Papers should demonstrate the following qualities:

• Coherence of Analysis (50%): Submissions should present a clear, logically structured argument supported by robust empirical foundations.
• Case Selection/Data Collection (30%): Papers should provide a sound rationale for case selection or data sources, demonstrating relevance and scholarly value.
• Novelty of Findings (20%): Contributions must advance the field by presenting innovative findings or perspectives.

Formatting and Style Requirements

• Manuscripts must be submitted in Microsoft Word format via the conference’s online portal.
• Text should be formatted in Times New Roman, font size 12, and single-spaced
• Citations must be presented as footnotes, following the Chicago Manual of Style (notes and bibliography format). A full bibliography should be included at the end of the manuscript.

Submissions are expected to adhere to professional academic standards, with clarity of expression and engagement with existing scholarship. Authors should ensure that ideas are well-articulated and avoid jargon unless relevant to the argument. Any use of technical terms should be clearly defined. Submissions will undergo plagiarism and AI detection checks prior to review.

Review and Selection Process

All submissions will be subject to a blind peer review by three reviewers. Reviewers will evaluate the papers and abstracts based on the criteria listed above. To ensure fairness, authors must anonymise their manuscripts by removing identifying information.

Timeline:

• Submission of abstract (maximum 200 words) and Paper (maximum 2,000 words): 31 July 2025
• Announcement of selected abstracts: 31 August 2025
• Power point submission: 30 September 2025
• ICPVTR Symposium on Terrorism Research: 9-10 October 2025

We hope you can join us in the first ever ICPVTR Symposium on Terrorism Research in October in Singapore. For further queries, please contact Kenneth Yeo ([email protected]). We look forward to receiving your ideas!