Wednesday 12 February 2025
12:30
Julia Ebner
Going Mainstream: How the Extreme Fringes Have Conquered Politics
Conspiracy theorists. Incels. White Nationalists. Once, these groups all belonged on the fringes of the political spectrum. Today, accelerated by the polycrisis of the pandemic, economic crisis, global conflict and rapid technological change, their ideas are becoming more widespread. Based on Julia’s undercover investigations for her latest book Going Mainstream, she explores: why outlandish ideas have taken hold and conspiracy myths are spreading faster than ever and, how, united by a shared sense of grievance and skepticism about institutions, radicalised individuals are influencing the mainstream as never before.
Julia is the Leader of the Violent Extremism Lab at the University of Oxford’s Centre for the Study of Social Cohesion and a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, where she has led projects on online radicalisation, terrorism, conspiracy myths and hate speech. Julia is also an award-winning and internationally bestselling author of several books, including The Rage: The Vicious Circle of Islamist and Far-Right Extremism, Going Dark: The Secret Social Lives of Extremists and Going Mainstream: How Extremists Are Taking Over. Based on her research, she has given evidence to numerous governments, as well as advised intelligence agencies, tech firms and international organisations. She regularly writes for media outlets such as the Guardian, Financial Times and Washington Post
'With unparalleled insight and urgency, Ebner reveals the dangerous spread of extremist beliefs. This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the terrifying new reality we face'
Leader of the Violent Extremism Lab at the University of Oxford's Centre for the Study of Social Cohesion
Julia is the Leader of the Violent Extremism Lab at the University of Oxford’s Centre for the Study of Social Cohesion and a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, where she has led projects on online radicalisation, terrorism, conspiracy myths and hate speech. Julia is also an award-winning and internationally bestselling author of several books, including The Rage: The Vicious Circle of Islamist and Far-Right Extremism, Going Dark: The Secret Social Lives of Extremists and Going Mainstream: How Extremists Are Taking Over. Based on her research, she has given evidence to numerous governments, as well as advised intelligence agencies, tech firms and international organisations. She regularly writes for media outlets such as the Guardian, Financial Times and Washington Post
