On 25 March 2024, the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR) at RSIS commemorated its 20th anniversary as a centre focused on better understanding the challenges and complexities related to politically motivated violence and terrorism. ICPVTR started as a research programme within the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS) and has since transformed into a leading counterterrorism think-tank in the region, under the auspices of RSIS.
To commemorate this anniversary, Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Minister of State (MOS) for Home Affairs and National Development; Ambassador Ong Keng Yong, Executive Deputy Chairman of RSIS; and Professor Kumar Ramakrishna, Dean of RSIS and Research Adviser to ICPVTR; planted a bonsai tree. The tree symbolises ICPVTR’s enduring commitment and growth over the past 20 years.
In his opening remarks at the event, Amb Ong highlighted the persistent threat of terrorism despite seemingly stabilising conditions, citing the recent attack in Moscow as an example of why we must continue the effort to study, prevent, and counter violent extremism.
In his congratulatory speech, MOS Faishal lauded the Centre for its policy-oriented research and community engagement initiatives in helping to keep terrorism and political violence at bay in Singapore and the region. In particular, the initiatives and programmes spearheaded by ICPVTR, such as its flagship Terrorism Analyst Training Course, have been instrumental in enhancing the capacity of government agencies and strengthening the foundations of the national security architecture.
The event also included the launch of a special 20th anniversary edition of the Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses (CTTA), ICPVTR’s quarterly publication that has been in circulation since 2009. The special edition discusses four key themes: the role of think tanks in fostering an awareness about terrorist threats, contemporary themes for future terrorism research, challenges of data gathering, and the evolution of the threat landscape in South and Southeast Asia.
Prof Kumar gave brief remarks on the special edition as well as the current terrorism threat landscape. He cautioned that the threat of terrorism has become more diverse and complex. Despite being weakened, religiously motivated terrorism persists, and the threat from a violent ethno-nationalist wave, in the form of several far-right groups, is gaining ground. The weaponisation of everyday life has also presented new challenges to counter terrorism.
The special 20th anniversary edition of CTTA can be read here.
