Synopsis

The National Security Studies Programme (NSSP) will be organising a half-day workshop that focuses on: (a) obtaining a better understanding of the nature of the threat to multicultural/multireligious societies like Singapore; and (b) learning lessons from other countries on how to improve responses. The first panel examines the nature of the ISIS threat. It lays out the threat to multicultural societies in Southeast Asia before critiquing ISIS claims to be a genuinely Islamic entity. The second panel examines some international responses to the ISIS threat, including attempts in the UK to systematically map out the extent of the threat to the social fabric, and crucially, how hard and soft power should be carefully integrated to counter the threat.

Panels

Panel 1:  Understanding the ISIS Threat to Multicultural Societies

This panel examines the nature of the ISIS threat. It first lays out the threat to multicultural societies in Southeast Asia before critiquing ISIS claims to be a genuinely Islamic entity.

• Dr Bilveer Singh, Adjunct Senior Fellow, Centre of Excellence for National Security, RSIS; and Associate Professor at the Department of Political Science, National University of Singapore on “The Threat of ISIS Extremism: A Regional Perspective”.
• Dr David Cook, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Rice University, USA on “How ‘Islamic’ is ISIS?”

Panel 2:  Responding to the ISIS Threat

This panel examines some international responses to the ISIS threat, including attempts in the UK to systematically map out the extent of the threat to the social fabric, and crucially, how hard and soft power should be carefully integrated to counter the threat.

• Mr Nafees Hamid, Research Fellow, ARTIS International, UK on “Mapping the Spread of Violent Extremism: A UK Example”.
• Brigadier General (Ret) Russell D. Howard, Senior Fellow, Joint Special Operations University, USA on “Integrating ‘Soft’ and ‘Hard’ Power in Fighting ISIS: A US Perspective”.