A Primer on Violent Extremist Ideologies
Topic(s): 
National Social Work Month
Violence
Women
Youth
Webinar event date: 
Mar 12, 2026 1:00 pm EDT
Webinar link

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Webinar Presenters: 
Michael King, PhD

Michael King is Deputy Executive Director at the Organization for the Prevention of Violence (OPV) which counters violent extremism and hate-motivated violence through research, training, and psycho-social intervention. He has been appointed adjunct professor at both the University of Toronto and Ontario Tech University, and adjunct fellow at the Centre for Military, Security, and Strategic Studies of the University of Calgary. Michael previously worked at the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and at Public Safety Canada. Michael has a PhD in social psychology from McGill University.

Description

In Canada, violent extremist ideologies are ever evolving in a context of increased social polarization. This webinar will provide an overview of violent extremist ideologies, starting with ideologies deemed traditional in the field of counter-terrorism, such as white nationalism, salafi-jihadism, and anti-government extremism, as well as newer violent ideologies, such as Christian Nationalism, extreme misogyny, conspiracy-based ideologies, and nihilism. This knowledge will equip participants to be competent at identifying when services users are engaging with violent extremist rhetoric or on a pathway towards radicalization to violence.

Participants will learn the following:

  • An overview of violent extremist ideologies that are affecting Canadians
  • Understand the growing role of misogyny and white nationalism
  • Become aware of new trends in ideologies that target youth and women
  • Be better able to detect extremist ideologies that are affecting service users