Non-violent mobilisation against terrorism: why and how it matters Guest Speakers: Dr Javier Argomaniz, Dr Tim Wilson and Dr Boris Tsokov

When studying terrorist campaigns, analysis typically centres on the two principal protagonists: the state and militant organisations. This narrow focus reflects a persistent assumption that, in moments of political exigency, violence constitutes the most effective instrument for achieving social and political change, rendering non-violent alternatives naïve or ineffective.

This roundtable will challenge that assumption by examining the often overlooked role of non-violent mobilisation in contexts of terrorism and political violence. Focusing on peace organisations in the Basque Country and Northern Ireland, the discussion will explore how nonviolent actors can exert subtle, indirect, yet potentially consequential influence over the trajectory of violent conflict. Rather than positioning peace movements as peripheral or merely reactive, the roundtable will consider how they shape norms, constrain violent strategies, and open alternative political pathways.

By foregrounding non-violent mobilisation, this event seeks to contribute to broader debates on terrorism, political violence and peacebuilding, and to reflect on why and how non-violent action continues to matter even, and especially, in contexts marked by sustained violence.