Sajjan Gohel

Dr. Sajjan M. Gohel's research interests include looking at the ideology and doctrine that feeds international terrorism, the varying tactics and strategies of transnational terrorist groups, border security challenges, and the role new media plays in strategic communications. He is the author of the book, Doctor, Teacher, Terrorist: The Life and Legacy of Al-Qaeda Leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, published by Oxford University Press.

In addition to being a guest teacher at the LSE, Dr. Gohel is the International Security Director for the London-based Asia-Pacific Foundation, a policy assessment think-tank monitoring emerging geopolitical threats. He acts in a consultancy role for law enforcement agencies, foreign ministry and defence departments, and the international media. Dr. Gohel has also provided in-depth reports on security issues to multilateral organizations such as the European Union, UNHCR, NATO, OSCE and INTERPOL.

Dr. Gohel’s research is case-study driven having conducted fieldwork in 23 countries. Dr. Gohel has also provided expert witness testimony to the House of Common’s Foreign Affairs Committee on the evolving challenges and threats in Afghanistan-Pakistan, North Africa and the Middle East.

Dr. Gohel is the Editor for NATO’s first-ever Counter-Terrorism Reference Curriculum (CTRC) which combined the expertise of academia as well as law enforcement and defence practitioners. He is leading NATO’s Defence Education Enhancement Programme’s (DEEP) to integrate the CTRC across the alliance and partner nations including the creation of the eCTRC.

As part of NATO DEEP, Dr. Gohel is the Chairman for NATO DEEP’s Global Threats Advisory Group (CTAG), a collaborative research project investigating current transnational security threats and comprises of members from over 30 countries. He has led several train-the-trainer programmes for the armed forces of Ukraine, Jordan, and other Mediterranean Dialogue countries.

Dr. Gohel also serves as a visiting lecturer for military officers and diplomats at the George C. Marshall Center, the NATO Schools in Turkey and Germany as also the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law (IIJ) and an academic advisory member of the Counter Terrorism Advisory Network (CTAN).

Dr. Gohel has been awarded the LSE International History Department’s ‘Martin Abel Gonzalez Teaching Prize’ on several occasions and is the recipient of the NATO Centre of Excellence – Defence Against Terrorism (COE-DAT) Commendation for contribution to the academic research of terrorism.

Dr. Gohel is the host for NATO’s first ever podcast series, DEEP Dive, where he talks with fellow practitioners on global security issues. He also appears as a guest analyst on CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, BBC, Sky News, CBC, CTV and The Monocle. Dr. Gohel’s commentaries also feature in various print media including Time Magazine, New York Times, Washington Post, Reuters and Associated Press.

Dr. Gohel received his BA (Hons) in Politics from Queen Mary, University of London. He also holds both a Master’s degree in Comparative Politics and a Ph.D. in International History from the London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE). His thesis is entitled, 'Insurrection of the Ideologues: The Evolution of Egyptian Islamist Radical Ideological Thought from Hasan al-Banna to Ayman al-Zawahiri'.

Expertise

Islamist Ideology and Doctrine; Trans-National Political Violence and Terrorism; Border Security; Role of New Media for Strategic Communications and Protest Movements; Comparative Middle East - South Asia - Central Asia and East Asia Politics