We hosted an audience of academics and Consulate staff for a presentation via digital videoconference by Dr. Michael Ryan, Senior Fellow at The Jamestown Foundation and adjunct scholar at the Middle East Institute on “big picture ISIL.”
Dr. Ryan is the author of Decoding Al-Qaeda’s Strategy: The Deep Battle Against America. He focused his presentation on the history of ISIL as well as its means of ideological propagation and use of social media in recruiting potential jihadists and spreading hatred. After his presentation, guests from across Canada participated in a Q&A session with Dr. Ryan.