Dr. Michael Loadenthal

Speaking Topics: social movements, political protest, security, terrorism and political violence, repression and the criminalization of dissent, anarchism, and action-oriented/ethical research practices.

Michael Loadenthal is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at University of Cincinnati, the Executive Director of the Peace and Justice Studies Association, and the founder and Executive Director of the Prosecution Project. He holds a Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution (George Mason University), and a master’s degree in Terrorism Studies from the Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence (University of St. Andrews). Michael has taught courses for Georgetown University, Miami University, George Mason University, University of Cincinnati, University of Malta’s Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies, the DC Jail, and the Jessup Correctional Institution, a maximum-security men’s prison. Dr. Loadenthal has served as the Dean’s Fellow for Mason’s School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, a Practitioner-In- Residence for Georgetown’s Center for Social Justice, a Research Fellow at Hebrew Union College’s Center for the Study of Ethics and Contemporary Moral Problems, a Senior Research Associate for the Better Evidence Project at George Mason University, and a contract-based security researcher and threat modeler. He is a non-resident fellow with the Movement Engaged Research Hub at George Mason University, and the Global Network on Extremism and Technology. Beyond the classroom, Michael has been a social movement organizer, trainer, and strategist for nearly 20 years, helping to plan protest campaigns on four continents and working amongst anarchist, anti-racist, environmental direct action, reproductive health, anti-war, and anti- capitalist movements. He has worked in conflict zones, both in the US and abroad, and helped to develop and operate counter-institutions providing healthcare, legal services, childcare and disaster relief. His latest single-authored book, ‘The Politics of Attack’, explores the rise of clandestine anarchist networks. He publishes frequently in and posts all of his work online at https://michaelloadenthal.academia.edu/.