Based on the theme “Terrorism in Transition: New Challenges in a Declining Threat Environment,” the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR) organised the inaugural RSIS Regional Terrorism Research Exchange (RTRX) from 9–10 October 2025. A competitive call-for-papers event, RTRX reaffirms ICPVTR’s commitment to serve as Southeast Asia’s hub for terrorism research by fostering scholarly exchange and cultivating the next generation of terrorism studies researchers in Southeast Asia.
The keynote address by Dean of RSIS Professor Kumar Ramakrishna outlined the evolving threat landscape in Southeast Asia and emphasised the importance of understanding terrorism’s adaptive nature even as the overall threat environment appears to decline. His remarks framed the analytical discussions that followed.
Recognising that many participants were early-career researchers, the programme included a dedicated session on Researching Terrorism. In this session, security consultant and scholar Thomas C. Koruth addressed the methodological and ethical challenges of fieldwork, such as securing access to vulnerable populations, managing researcher safety, protecting the local communities, and maintaining data integrity. Through this, ICPVTR hopes to equip new scholars with practical research competencies and ethical awareness.
From the pool of submissions, ten papers were selected for presentation under three themes: Strategies of Local Extremist Organisations; Emerging Trends: Adaptation and Digital Extremism; and Rehabilitation and Reintegration. Lively exchanges throughout the sessions encouraged theoretical innovation and regional comparison. ICPVTR will publish a RTRX 2025 Monograph featuring selected revised papers, consolidating the insights generated to encourage collaboration in terrorism research across Southeast Asia.
