Neil Ferguson

Lloyd’s Scholar Award, University of Maryland - Political Psychology

Neil is a father of two wonderful boys, professor of political psychology at Liverpool Hope University and a recent visiting fellow to the Changing Character of War Programme at Pembroke College, Oxford. Originally from Northern Ireland, he was awarded his BSc and PhD from the University of Ulster. Neil’s research has focused on studying the mainly unconscious psychological forces behind political violence and his current work examines how psycho-social processes relate to politically motivated violence, primarily looking at Northern Ireland. As a Fulbright scholar Neil will collaborate with researchers at the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) at the University of Maryland to explore how insights on disengagement and de-radicalisation from violent extremism gleaned from research in Northern Ireland can be employed to develop or strengthen models of desistance and reintegration, while generating policy recommendations and disengagement interventions. His Fulbright will also provide him with an opportunity to enjoy the different flavours of American culture whilst developing friendships and long-lasting transatlantic collaborations.