Dr. Brian Hughes
Founding Co-Director, (PERIL)
2022, 2024
Brian Hughes is a Research Assistant Professor in the program of Justice, Law, and Criminology at American University in Washington, DC. He is the founding co-director of the Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab (PERIL), where he develops studies and interventions to reduce the impact of disinformation and the risk of radicalization to extremism. His academic work explores the impact of communication technology on political and religious extremism, terrorism, and fringe culture. This work seeks to identify the social and emotional connections between extremist ideologies, cultures, times, and places. His writing has appeared in the CTC Sentinel at West Point, the International Journal of Communication, Lawfare, and New Media & Society.
The Summit offers a unique opportunity to confront the corrosive influence of bigotry and hatred in our society. In order for us to address these challenges, we first must acknowledge their painful and destructive impact in our communities and in our country. I am grateful to serve as a Global Advisor to this timely and powerful initiative.
