| A Message from our Office
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| Message from the Director of Terrorism Studies
The Evolving Face of Terrorism
Following the removal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan in 2021, after 20 years of combating terrorism in the region, the Justice Department of the United States has listed the primary threat as being domestic right-wing terrorists. While there are certainly elements within the United States that cause such a concern, it is also important to remember there are other threats that cannot be ignored. Primarily, we cannot forget that while we have removed ourselves from Afghanistan, there are multiple terrorist organizations continuing to operate in the region and beyond.
Even though the Taliban serves as the ruling government in Afghanistan, it has not returned to power as a more tolerant organization. Women and girls are still forbidden from attending school and reforms seem slow to come. Further, other groups, including Al-Qaeda and ISIS continue to engage in attacks, seeking to destabilize whatever control they have over the country. Notably, ISIS continues to call on its “lone wolves” in the west to attack targets of opportunity, so we can ill-afford to take our eye off that ball.
In Africa, Al Shabaab continues to engage in attacks. Recent attacks in Kenya and Mogadishu show the group is committed to continuing operations in areas where there is a security vacuum. When the state is unable to maintain security, terrorists move in. In Burkina Faso, the inability of the country’s President to effectively combat the Al-Qaeda affiliate Ansarul Islam led to the military removing him from power in a bloodless coup in January 2022.
Of course, over the last weeks the world has been witness to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. We often forget that it is possible for a nation state to engage in terrorism either by directly oppressing its people or supporting proxies in the effort to intimidate or subjugate its own/other populations. Putin is engaged in both aspects of state terrorism. The invasion itself can be viewed as an act of terrorism, but the purposeful targeting of civilian targets is certainly an act of terrorism by the Russian government. Further, the threat by Putin to use nuclear weapons should western nations interfere with his military, could and should be considered an act of global terrorism. Not since the height of the cold war has such a threat been made. On a not unrelated note, when this war is over, the global community needs to seriously consider the need to prevent future nuclear proliferation by rogue regimes, specifically Iran and the DPRK so the world cannot be held hostage again to such threats.
Finally, it is well known among security circles that the Russian government uses a Private Military Contractor (PMC), The Wagner Group, to further its national interest without engaging in formal military action, which would be considered an act of war. As such, Vladimir Putin has been able to send his “little green men” to engage those working against the interest of Russia without claiming state intervention. Across Africa, this group is known to have influenced governments and put down worker disputes with violence so severe that the UN has accused them of human rights abuses.
The Wagner Group is known to have operated in Eastern Ukraine to create instability following Russia’s annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014. Most recently, members of this group (estimated to be up to 4,000) were reported to have pulled out of Africa in mass and returned to eastern Ukraine to support Russian military efforts. As they wear no insignia on their uniforms, there is concern they might be used in “false flag operations” or sabotage activities as part of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Recent reports suggest up to 400 members of the Wagner Group, Putin’s private mercenary force, have been tasked with assassinating Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other high-ranking members of the Ukrainian government.
Due to stiff resistance by the Ukrainian forces, and the reported death of thousands of Russian troops, the invasion of Ukraine by Russia has not gone as Putin had hoped and the situation changes day to day. No doubt this message will be outdated by the time it is posted, but as of March 1, 2022, the Ukrainian people are continuing to fight for their freedom, and most of the world is supporting them by way of sanctions against the Russian government and Russian elites, as well as providing defensive weapons to the Ukrainian forces. Neighboring countries to the west of Ukraine are accepting the wave of refugees that are fleeing the violence. The faculty and students in UCF Global Perspectives and International Initiatives continue to be vigilant in our efforts to get the most recent information and analyze this information within the framework of international relations and terrorism studies. Our students will also examine the humanitarian crisis that is being precipitated by Russia’s violent invasion of Ukraine. The addition of the nuclear paradigm brings into sharp focus the need for such vigilance.
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– Dr. Ted Reynolds, Director, Terrorism Studies Program
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Mandell Distinguished Speaker Series -
America's Place in the Changing World:
A Discussion with Ben Rhodes
March 24, 2022 from 4:00PM to 5:15PM
In-person event - Fairwinds Alumni Center, Ballroom AB
Please join us for a special event “America’s Place in the Changing World: A Discussion with Ben Rhodes”. As Deputy National Security Advisor to Barack Obama, Rhodes will share his observations about how global politics are changing, weaving is his experiences in the White House and more recent events including the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This event is part of the Lester N. Mandell Endowed Distinguished Lecture Series and hosted by UCF Global Perspectives and International Initiatives.
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A Transatlantic Conversation: Managing Migration in Florida and Cairo
March 30, 2022 from 10:00AM to 11:30AM EST/
4:00PM to 5:30PM Cairo Time
Virtual Event
This special event features experts from the United States and Middle East and North Africa in a conversation on migration management.
This panel including Dr. Fernando Rivera, Dr. Maritza Concha, Dr. Maysa Ayoub, and Ms. Elena Habersky will focus on refugee and migrant populations and local hosting communities in Central Florida, USA, and Cairo, Egypt. The panelists will address and examine issues such as flows and stocks, challenges and opportunities, resources, and perspectives from each side of the Atlantic. The discussion is moderated by Dr. Carlos Abaunza.
This event is a collaboration between UCF Global Perspectives and International Initiatives (GPII) at the University of Central Florida and the Center for Migration and Refugee Studies (CMRS) at the American University in Cairo.
More Info | All are welcome | Register here
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Puerto Rico Baseball Day
March 26, 2022 from 3:00PM to 5:00PM
In-person event - UCF Softball Field
Join the UCF Puerto Rico Research Hub, UCF Athletics, and Major League Baseball (MLB) for Puerto Rico Baseball Day at the University of Central Florida.
MLB will host a PLAY BALL Event – a free baseball clinic for children between the ages of 5 – 12 joined by 3X MLB All-Star Carlos Baerga and other celebrity guests!
Participants and families are invited to stay for a special Q&A session afterwards followed by a UCF baseball game.
More Info | All are welcome | Register here
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The Intersection of Youth Homelessness & Human Trafficking
March 22, 2022 from 12:00PM to 1:30PM
Virtual Event
Join the conversation on examining the pathways and vulnerabilities that lead to homelessness and trafficking, strategies to prevent both, latest research, and key policy opportunities to move forward a proactive advocacy agenda. This event is hosted by GPII’s Center for the Study of Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery.
More Info | All are welcome | Register here
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Global Perspectives TV Show
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Global Perspectives Hosts Dr. Youcheng Wang, Dean of UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management
Dr. Youcheng Wang discusses how the leisure, business, and international markets have recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic and how the hospitality and tourism industries may be able to incorporate a more flexible, hybrid model for business.
Start Watching
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GPII Podcasts
Listen to originally produced podcasts from UCF Global Perspectives and International Initiatives to get insights and news from around the globe.
Start Listening
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| Dr. Fernando Rivera sits down with Rosa Leia Silva,
a UCF Film student
In this episode, Dr. Rivera discusses Silva's success as the first inaugural winner of UCF's Latin/Latinx Student Film Festival and her short film, First Generation Loneliness. Together they analyze what it means to be a first-generation student and the importance of mental health.
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| | | Launching Farther: A Discussion on India’s Space Policy
The India Center at UCF hosted a webinar on India’s space policy. WMFE space reporter Brendan Byrne led the discussion with Dr. Rajeswari (Raji) Rajagopalan, Director of the Centre for Security, Strategy and Technology at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi. The conversation revolved around the history of US-India space cooperation, the importance of these partnerships, and the future of the national Indian Space Research Organization with the growing private sector space industry in India.
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| | | Global Teach-in on Climate Change
Climate change is a real and growing threat that will impact everything from food and water security to coastal infrastructure and biodiversity. On March 28, 2022, UCF faculty, local government leaders and students join a world-wide effort to learn more and discuss the implications of climate change and approaches to mitigating and adapting to this global problem.
This event is sponsored by the UCF School of Politics, Security, and International Affairs; UCF Global Perspectives and International Initiatives; The Center for Global Economic and Environmental Opportunity; and UCF Coastal.
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| | | GPII Puerto Rico Hub Activities
Dr. Fernando Rivera has been busy presenting and co-hosting Puerto Rico Day in Tallahassee. This significant event invites community leaders and organizations to discuss with legislators the contributions of the Puerto Rican community and advocate for policy that benefits this population and Latinos in general. Additionally, Rivera has published his opinion piece Los de acá at the El Vocero Newspaper in Puerto Rico.
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| | | Bringing Awareness to Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery in Australia
Michael Bondzie, UCF Center for Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery Intern
Michael Bondzie explores the issue of human trafficking in the context of Australia. He sheds the light on action executed by local and governmental organizations and its impact.
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|  | UCF GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES
AND INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVES
4356 Scorpius Street, Orlando, FL USA 32816
Phone: 407.823.2337 | Fax: 407.823.2526
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