Haval Ahmad

Associate faculty

Humanitarian Studies
Leadership Studies

Dr. Haval Ahmad is a political scientist and researcher, teaches in the Master of Arts in Human Security and Peacebuilding, Master of Arts in Justice Studies, and Master of Arts in Global Leadership program. He holds a PhD in International Politics. His research interest includes de-radicalization, terrorism, counter violent extremisms (CVE), Kurdish affairs, political violence, conflict and human security. He is an author of a number of academic publications, and co-authored a book on Radicalization, Terrorism, and Countering Extremism. Other areas of Ahmad’s current work include analyzing geopolitics and foreign intervention in the MENA region and the impact on stability and human security.

Experience

Haval has worked in the public education system for 15 years, working directly with immigrant and refugee students and families. His work included advocacy, needs assessment, and individualized action plans to meet the settlement and integration needs. Ahmad has also worked with the Vancouver Police Department and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in a crisis intervention role, working directly with victims of crimes. Since 2016, Ahmad has been actively working on research projects involving collaboration with researchers in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the Middle East.

Memberships and Committees
  • International Political Science Association (IPSA)
  • International studies Association (ISA)
  • Association for the Study of the Middle East and Africa (ASMEA)

Education

n.d.
PhD in International Politics

Aberystwyth University, Wales, United Kingdom

n.d.
Master of Arts in Human Security and Peacebuilding

Royal Roads University

n.d.
Bachelor of Arts in Justice Studies

Royal Roads University

n.d.
Diploma in Child and Youth Care Counselling

Douglas College

n.d.
Violence Threat Risk Assessment certification

Canadian Centre for Threat Assessment and Trauma Response

Awards

2024
Eve’s Global Leadership Teaching Award

Royal Roads University

2023
The Canadian Defence and Security Network (CDSN)

Capstone Laureate

2021
American Political Science Association (APSA) 2021 Conference Grant

Conference grant

2020
Association for the Study of the Middle East and Africa (ASMEA) Research Grant

ASMEA 2020 Research Grant

Research

Research interest

Terrorism

De-/radicalization

Political Violence

Publications

Countering Terrorism or Fuelling Extremism? The Comparative Growth of Global De-Radicalization Programs and Policy. Palgrave Macmillan. With Kenneth Christie and Binoy Kampmark. (in press).

Radicalization, Terrorism, and Countering Extremism: Theory and Practice. (2024). Roman & Littlefield Publishers. (With Kenneth Christie).

Ahmad, H., MacTavish, E., & Christie, K. (2024). The de facto Autonomous Governance and Stability in the Middle East: The Case of Kurds in Rojava. The Journal of the Middle East and Africa, 15(1), 91–110.

Ahmad, H. (2023). Book Review: The Form of Ideology and the Ideology of Form: Cold War, Decolonization and Third World Print Cultures, by Francesca Orsini, Neelam Srivastava, and Laetitia Zecchini, eds. Open Book Publishers, 2022. For: Peace Research. The Canadian Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies.

Ahmad, H. (2020). Book Review: Presidential Decision Making and Military Intervention in the Post-Cold War Era,” by Dennis Ricci, London: Roman & Littlefield, 2019. For: Peace Research. The Canadian Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies.

Ahmad, H., & Masinda, T.M. (2018). Research Note on Immigrant Youth Radicalization and Terrorism: Pre- and Post-Migration Considerations.  Journal for Deradicalization, Winter (17), 295-312.

Ahmad, H. (2017). Youth De-Radicalization: A Canadian Framework. Journal for Deradicalization. Fall (12), 119-168.