Thomas Renard

Biography

Dr. Thomas Renard joined the Egmont Institute in 2009 and was a Senior Research Fellow until 2021, when he became Director of the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism (ICCT) in The Hague. He remains closely involved with Egmont as a Senior Associate Fellow.

His research focuses on (counter-)terrorism and (counter-)radicalization in Belgium and in Europe. His recent research has focused on the evolution of counter-terrorism policy in liberal democracies since 2001, on (returning) foreign fighters, on radicalization in prison and on terrorist recidivism.

His latest book is The Evolution of Counter-Terrorism since 9/11 (Routledge, Fall 2021), whereas his research has been published in many journals and think tanks, including: International Affairs, CTC Sentinel, Cambridge Review of International Affairs, ICCT or RUSI. He presented his research findings in many policy venues, including the UN Security Council, UN CTED, the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF), or the European Parliament, among others, and his recommendations inform regularly global policy discussions. He also contributes regularly to media worldwide (New York Times, Washington Post, Guardian, BBC, Le Monde…).

Previously, Dr. Renard worked with the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation (as the head of the Brussels office) and with the Jamestown Foundation, a US think tank. He started his work on this topic as a data-entry analyst for the Center on Terrorism and Intelligence Studies (CETIS) in the US, contributing to the elaboration of the Global Terrorism Database (GTD) hosted by the University of Maryland, the largest database worldwide on terrorist incidents. He also worked as a journalist and as an analyst for US think tanks, based in Washington DC.

Other topics of research include cyber-diplomacy, as well as the EU’s strategic partnerships in the context of the multipolarisation of international affairs. He edited notably the book The European Union and Emerging Powers in the 21st Century: How Europe Can Shape a New Global Order (Asghate, 2012, with Sven Biscop). His publications have been translated into Chinese and Russian. 

He is an Adjunct Professor at the Brussels School of Governance, an Associate Researcher at Ghent University and at the UNESCO-PREV Chair at the University of Sherbrooke. He is also a member of the expert pool of the EU’s Radicalisation Awareness Network (RAN) and sits on a number of scientific committees. He obtained his PhD from Ghent University in 2021, and has an MA in International Affairs from the George Washington University (GWU) and a MA in Journalism from the Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL). 

ACTIVITIES

-24 June: Thomas Renard had a briefing discussion on radicalisation in prison with US counterterrorism officials (US State Department)

-22 June: Thomas Renard presented his research on terrorist recidivism at a webinar hosted by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy

-15 June: Thomas Renard participated to the Steering Committee of the EU-funded EMMA project, on multi-agency response to radicalisation

-28-29 May: Thomas Renard was a speaker at an InfoEx workshop on recidivism and deradicalisation, organized by DGAP.

-27 May 2020:  Presentation on terrorist recidivism for UN personnel, during a webinar hosted by UNOCT and UNCCT

Publications

• What the Zeitgeist can Tell us About the Future of Terrorism Other publications (10-06-2022)
• The Evolution of Counter-Terrorism Since 9/11 Books (1-10-2021)
• Counter-Terrorism as a Public Policy: Theoretical Insights and Broader Reflections on the State of Counter-Terrorism Research Other publications (31-08-2021)
• The evolution of the policy response to jihadi returnees in Europe (2012-2020) Other publications (22-07-2021)
• Strengthening rather than merging Belgian intelligence services Commentaries (2-06-2021)
• Strategic Partnerships: The rise and fall of an idea Other publications (2-04-2021)
• The caliphate’s legacy and fringe extremists Commentaries (18-01-2021)
• Enfants belges en Syrie: l’inacceptable « choix de Sophie » Other publications (16-11-2020)
• From bad to worse: The fate of European foreign fighters and families detained in Syria, one year after the Turkish offensive Security Policy Briefs (28-10-2020)
• Extremist offender management in Belgium Other publications (27-07-2020)
• On the repatriation of Belgian children and fighters in Syria Commentaries (6-07-2020)
• The emergence of cyber diplomacy in an increasingly post-liberal cyberspace Commentaries (11-06-2020)
• Power and diplomacy in the post-liberal cyberspace Other publications (11-06-2020)
• The EU’s international politics of cyberspace in an emerging post-liberal order Commentaries (10-06-2020)
• Overblown: Exploring the gap between the fear of terrorist recidivism and the evidence Other publications (29-04-2020)
• Foreign Fighters trials in Syria: not a solution Commentaries (26-02-2020)
• Foreign Fighters and the Terrorist Threat in Belgium Commentaries (10-01-2020)
• Returnees in the Maghreb. A European perspective Security Policy Briefs (12-12-2019)
• Challenges of radicalisation in prison Other publications (18-11-2019)
• Zijn we de greep op terugkeerders kwijt? Commentaries (18-10-2019)
• New figures on European nationals detained in Syria and Iraq Commentaries (15-10-2019)
• Losing control over returnees? Commentaries (14-10-2019)
• Returnees in the Maghreb: Comparing policies on returning foreign terrorist fighters in Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia Egmont papers (24-04-2019)
• What justice for Belgian jihadi fighters? Commentaries (7-03-2019)
• The Belgian secret services get out of the shadows Commentaries (30-11-2018)
• The EU as a partner in cyber diplomacy and defence Other publications (28-11-2018)
• Ce que l’attentat contre Léopold II nous enseigne sur le terrorisme moderne Commentaries (12-11-2018)
• Children in the Levant: Insights from Belgium on the dilemmas of repatriation and the challenges of reintegration Security Policy Briefs (11-07-2018)
• How to handle returning foreign fighters: policies and challenges Other publications (25-04-2018)
• The Homecoming of Foreign Fighters in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium: Policies and Challenges Commentaries (12-04-2018)
• Terrorism and counterterrorism in Europe in 2017 Other publications (27-03-2018)
• Reassessing Belgium’s “Failed” Counterterrorism Policy Commentaries (22-03-2018)
• How Belgium overcame the threat from returning foreign terrorist fighters Commentaries (22-03-2018)
• EU cyber partnerships: Assessing the EU strategic partnerships with third countries in the cyber domain Egmont papers (20-02-2018)
• Returnees: who are they, why are they (not) coming back and how should we deal with them? Assessing policies on returning foreign terrorist fighters in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands Egmont papers (6-02-2018)
• Cyber-diplomacy: the making of an international society in the digital age Other publications (8-01-2018)
• Business vs security: the conundrum of Chinese investments in Belgium Other publications (14-12-2017)
• Facing the evolving jihadi threat in Europe Other publications (22-09-2017)
• Terrorist networks in Belgium: from security to structural challenge Other publications (29-08-2017)
• Europe’s “new” jihad: Homegrown, leaderless, virtual Security Policy Briefs (6-07-2017)
• A jihadi threat in mutation? Commentaries (23-06-2017)
• The Counterterrorism Yearbook 2017: Europe Commentaries (6-04-2017)
• Terrorism and counterterrorism in continental Europe Other publications (21-03-2017)
• Brussels attacks one year on: More still needs to be done Other publications (14-03-2017)
• Counterterrorism in Belgium: Key challenges and policy options Egmont papers (27-10-2016)
• Fear Not: a critical perspective on the terrorist threat in Europe Security Policy Briefs (9-09-2016)
• Is terrorism contagious? Commentaries (9-08-2016)
• Understanding the current wave of terrorism Commentaries (4-08-2016)
• Belgium and its foreign and external policies (2010-15) Studia Diplomatica (3-06-2016)
• After Paris and Brussels: reassessing ISIS’s strategy in Europe Commentaries (8-04-2016)
• Why Belgium is not Europe’s jihadi base Commentaries (31-03-2016)
• Partnering for Global Security: The EU, its strategic partners and transnational security challenges Other publications (4-02-2016)
• The EU strategic partnerships with emerging powers Other publications (16-12-2015)
• After Paris: five questions on (counter-)terrorism in Europe Commentaries (4-12-2015)
• Terror alert in Europe: A comprehensive response to a comprehended threat Commentaries (24-11-2015)
• Aggressive, assertive and approximative: how Russia, China and Europe adapt to the changing global order Commentaries (12-11-2015)
• What Putin wants (in Syria) Commentaries (26-10-2015)
• US-China cybersecurity agreement: a good case of cyber diplomacy Commentaries (1-10-2015)
• An eventful summer (Syria and the teething of Europe) Commentaries (4-09-2015)
• Strategic partnerships: a new toolkit for business and statecraft Commentaries (24-07-2015)
• BRICS: An alternative order in construction (Summit takeaways) Commentaries (15-07-2015)
• Partnerships for effective multilateralism? Assessing the compatibility between EU bilateralism, (inter-)regionalism and multilateralism Other publications (13-07-2015)
• A 21st century Waterloo? Lessons and parallels between now and then Commentaries (18-06-2015)
• The EU’s strategic partnership agreements: balancing geo-economics and geopolitics Commentaries (9-06-2015)
• Brexit: How Europe is becoming ever smaller… Commentaries (22-05-2015)
• To join or not to join: The AIIB and the EU’s dilemma Commentaries (10-04-2015)
• The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB): China’s new multilateralism and the erosion of the West Security Policy Briefs (9-04-2015)
• In the (EU) army now Commentaries (18-03-2015)
• Ukraine, another ‘Iraq moment’ for Europe? Commentaries (19-02-2015)
• Troubleshooting partnerships for troubled times Commentaries (12-11-2014)
• The rise of cyber-diplomacy: the EU, its strategic partners and cyber-security Other publications (18-06-2014)
• The EU strategic partnerships: work in progress Other publications (18-06-2014)
• Partners in crime? The EU, its strategic partners and international organised crime Other publications (6-05-2014)
• The European Union: a new security actor? Other publications (5-05-2014)
• Sanctioning Russia through energy? Think twice Commentaries (26-03-2014)
• An ambivalent transatlantic partnership Commentaries (21-03-2014)
• The EU and its strategic partners Other publications (3-03-2014)
• Strategic prudence: The European Union and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Other publications (27-02-2014)
• We are all Ukrainians Commentaries (26-02-2014)
• Confidential partnerships? The EU, its strategic partners and international terrorism Other publications (24-01-2014)
• Partnering for a nuclear-safe world: the EU, its strategic partners and nuclear non-proliferation Other publications (24-10-2013)
• After the crisis: some thoughts on a global EU – or how to turn a crisis into regeneration Other publications (20-04-2013)
• Q&A on EU-China relations Other publications (19-04-2013)
• Getting our way in a fragmented world: how a more competitive world order challenges our society to get its act together Other publications (4-04-2013)
• Strategic bilateralism or effective multilateralism? The EU, the SCO and SAARC Other publications (2-01-2013)
• Hot issues, cold shoulders, lukewarm partners: EU strategic partnerships and climate change Other publications (24-11-2012)
• Partners in crisis: EU strategic partnerships and the global economic downturn Other publications (23-11-2012)
• China in the BRICS Other publications (20-11-2012)
• The European Union in the G20 Other publications (25-10-2012)
• EU counterterrorism policies and institutions after the Lisbon Treaty Other publications (25-09-2012)
• The EU and its strategic partners: a critical assessment of the EU’s strategic partnerships Other publications (10-08-2012)
• A strategic Union to cope with the multipolar challenge Commentaries (5-06-2012)
• Conclusion: from global disorder to an effective multilateral order: an agenda for the EU Other publications (15-05-2012)
• A multipolar world in the making Other publications (15-05-2012)
• The EU and emerging powers in the 21st century: how Europe can shape a new global order Books (15-05-2012)
• The EU strategic partnerships review: ten guiding principles Other publications (24-04-2012)
• En quête de stratégie : l’UE et les partenariats stratégiques Other publications (21-02-2012)
• High politics in the ‘Grand Area’ – Can Europeans have global impact in a multipolar age? Other publications (15-12-2011)
• The treachery of strategies: a call for true EU strategic partnerships [Russian] Other publications (25-10-2011)
• The treachery of strategies: a call for true EU strategic partnerships [Chinese] Other publications (25-10-2011)
• La retraite stratégique de l’Union européenne Commentaries (14-10-2011)
• EU foreign ministers should look to a grand strategy Commentaries (30-08-2011)
• EU-China in the G20: convergences and divergences Other publications (9-07-2011)
• Assessing the EU’s strategic partnerships in the UN system Security Policy Briefs (18-05-2011)
• The treachery of strategies: a call for true EU strategic partnerships Egmont papers (25-04-2011)
• The treachery of strategies Commentaries (12-04-2011)
• Libya and the post-American world: implications for the EU Security Policy Briefs (1-03-2011)
• The strategic union: rising to the multipolar challenge Other publications (9-02-2011)
• EU-China: Building upon a dialogue among strategic partners Other publications (26-01-2011)
• Upgrading the EU’s role as global actor Commentaries (25-01-2011)
• The strategic union: rising to the multipolar challenge Other publications (25-01-2011)
• Upgrading the EU’s role as global actor: institutions, law and the restructuring of European diplomacy Books (25-01-2011)
• What, where and who will be important in security in 2011? Other publications (10-12-2010)
• Terrorism and other transnational threats in the Sahel: what role for the EU? Other publications (20-09-2010)
• EU seeks truly strategic partners Commentaries (16-09-2010)
• Searching for a Brussels Machiavelli Commentaries (9-09-2010)
• Strategy wanted: the European union and strategic partnerships Security Policy Briefs (8-09-2010)
• The Old World’s importance to the new world order Commentaries (3-07-2010)
• Le syndrome de Copenhague Other publications (24-06-2010)
• NSS Review: Europe given short shrift Commentaries (3-06-2010)
• EU strategic partnerships: evolution of a concept, from Amsterdam to Lisbon Other publications (7-05-2010)
• The European Union as a security actor: cooperative multilateralism Other publications (30-04-2010)
• Time to end the ‘Copenhagen Syndrome’ Commentaries (21-03-2010)
• Du G2 au G20 Commentaries (10-03-2010)
• From the new G20 to a new multilateral order Commentaries (12-01-2010)
• A need for strategy in a multipolar world: recommendations to the EU after Lisbon Security Policy Briefs (7-01-2010)
• Un climat de terreur : impacts potentiels du changement climatique sur le terrorisme Other publications (8-11-2009)
• Défense Européenne, la grande illusion [European Defence, the great illusion] Other publications (8-11-2009)
• Afghanistan : une guerre stratégique pour l’Europe, un conflit existentiel pour l’OTAN. Other publications (8-11-2009)
• A BRIC in the world: emerging powers, Europe, and the coming order Egmont papers (25-10-2009)
• Strategisch partnerschap tussen de EU en de BRICs: waar is de strategie? Other publications (8-10-2009)
• The EU’s strategic partnerships with the BRIC: where’s the strategy Other publications (23-09-2009)
• Afghanistan: Strategic war for Europeans, existential conflict for NATO Commentaries (8-09-2009)
• EU’s strategic partnerships lack content Commentaries (27-08-2009)
• Oui, l’Afghanistan est important ! Commentaries (26-06-2009)
• Afghanistan belangrijker dan het lijkt Commentaries (24-06-2009)
• Europol report describes Afghanistan-Pakistan connection to trends in European terrorism Other publications (8-05-2009)
• Une stratégie de bon sens. Engager l’organisation de coopération de Shanghai dans la lutte contre le narcotrafic Other publications (8-05-2009)
• The coming order: strategic and geopolitical impacts of the economic crisis Other publications (8-04-2009)