Alexandra Phelan
@alexphelan.bsky.social
Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at Monash University. All things insurgent governance, legitimation theory, gender, and organised crime especially in Colombia. Left my ❤️ in #LatAm. Staunch defender of trampoline fitness.
Pinned
Alexandra Phelan
@alexphelan.bsky.social
· Nov 19
Coming your way shortly by yours truly, and currently on pre-order 🇨🇴👇🏼 #Colombia #FARC #insurgency
cup.columbia.edu/book/the-com...
cup.columbia.edu/book/the-com...
Reposted by Alexandra Phelan
Full article: Rhetoric or Reality? An Analysis of the PYD as a Gendered Insurgent Organization from 2011 to 2018
Studies in Conflict & Terrorism
@alexphelan.bsky.social
Christina Schmid
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Studies in Conflict & Terrorism
@alexphelan.bsky.social
Christina Schmid
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Rhetoric or Reality? An Analysis of the PYD as a Gendered Insurgent Organization from 2011 to 2018
Using the framework of “gendered organizations,” this article argues that the PYD strategically constructed its gender relations in its propaganda campaign and governance strategy through four diff...
www.tandfonline.com
October 24, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Full article: Rhetoric or Reality? An Analysis of the PYD as a Gendered Insurgent Organization from 2011 to 2018
Studies in Conflict & Terrorism
@alexphelan.bsky.social
Christina Schmid
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Studies in Conflict & Terrorism
@alexphelan.bsky.social
Christina Schmid
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Alexandra Phelan
🚨It’s out! Our new article (co-authored with soon-to-be Dr. Christina Schmid) examines how shifts in gender relations advanced the PYD’s broader politico-military strategy during three phases of insurgent control (2011–2018). It’s open access below!👇🏼
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
October 20, 2025 at 7:59 PM
🚨It’s out! Our new article (co-authored with soon-to-be Dr. Christina Schmid) examines how shifts in gender relations advanced the PYD’s broader politico-military strategy during three phases of insurgent control (2011–2018). It’s open access below!👇🏼
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
🚨It’s out! Our new article (co-authored with soon-to-be Dr. Christina Schmid) examines how shifts in gender relations advanced the PYD’s broader politico-military strategy during three phases of insurgent control (2011–2018). It’s open access below!👇🏼
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
October 20, 2025 at 7:59 PM
🚨It’s out! Our new article (co-authored with soon-to-be Dr. Christina Schmid) examines how shifts in gender relations advanced the PYD’s broader politico-military strategy during three phases of insurgent control (2011–2018). It’s open access below!👇🏼
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
🚨 Our new RUSI commentary, Guns, Goods, and Governance: Illicit Economies and the Foundations of Insurgent Rule, unpacks the complex and under-appreciated relationship between militancy, criminality and legitimacy 👇
www.rusi.org/explore-our-...
www.rusi.org/explore-our-...
Guns, Goods and Governance: Illicit Economies and the Foundations of Insurgent Rule
Research across different geographies has increasingly reshaped how the relationship between militancy, criminality and legitimacy is understood, with important implications for conflict prevention an...
www.rusi.org
October 5, 2025 at 10:41 PM
🚨 Our new RUSI commentary, Guns, Goods, and Governance: Illicit Economies and the Foundations of Insurgent Rule, unpacks the complex and under-appreciated relationship between militancy, criminality and legitimacy 👇
www.rusi.org/explore-our-...
www.rusi.org/explore-our-...
📣 We’re on the search for our next Head of School and Professor in the School of Social Sciences at Monash University! This is a fantastic chance to lead a vibrant school, work alongside brilliant colleagues, and become part of one of the world’s top unis. 👇
careers.pageuppeople.com/513/cw/en/jo...
careers.pageuppeople.com/513/cw/en/jo...
Job Search
careers.pageuppeople.com
September 24, 2025 at 11:49 PM
📣 We’re on the search for our next Head of School and Professor in the School of Social Sciences at Monash University! This is a fantastic chance to lead a vibrant school, work alongside brilliant colleagues, and become part of one of the world’s top unis. 👇
careers.pageuppeople.com/513/cw/en/jo...
careers.pageuppeople.com/513/cw/en/jo...
Thrilled to share our latest article in the TPV special issue on motivations! We explore how gendered narratives and misogyny act as a powerful shared language—connecting identity factors across far-right movements in Australia and the UK 👇🏼
doi.org/10.1080/0954...
doi.org/10.1080/0954...
September 18, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Thrilled to share our latest article in the TPV special issue on motivations! We explore how gendered narratives and misogyny act as a powerful shared language—connecting identity factors across far-right movements in Australia and the UK 👇🏼
doi.org/10.1080/0954...
doi.org/10.1080/0954...
At least 18 killed in Colombia in two separate attacks— a drone attack on a helicopter and a car bombing—both attributed to FARC dissidents.
www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/...
www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/...
At least 18 killed in Colombia in drone attack on helicopter, car bombing
Colombian President Gustavo Petro says armed dissidents, drug trafficking cartels should be considered ‘terrorists’.
www.aljazeera.com
August 22, 2025 at 8:14 AM
At least 18 killed in Colombia in two separate attacks— a drone attack on a helicopter and a car bombing—both attributed to FARC dissidents.
www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/...
www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/...
I was recently interviewed by @profil.at for this great feature on the PKK’s disarmament, and comparisons with the peace settlement with FARC 👇🏼
Seit über 40 Jahren kämpft die kurdische PKK gewaltsam für Autonomie. Jetzt will sie Frieden schließen. Wird das gelingen? Von @rbossniak.bsky.social
„Rasche Entwaffnung“: Gelingt der Frieden mit der PKK?
Seit über 40 Jahren kämpft die kurdische PKK gewaltsam für Autonomie. Jetzt will sie Frieden schließen. Wird das gelingen?
www.profil.at
July 11, 2025 at 8:40 PM
I was recently interviewed by @profil.at for this great feature on the PKK’s disarmament, and comparisons with the peace settlement with FARC 👇🏼
A sincere thank you to Dr. Lawrence Cline for their review of my book, The Combination of All Forms of Struggle: Insurgent Legitimation and State Response to FARC, in Small Wars and Insurgencies. It's wonderful to see parallels drawn to the FMLN 👇
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Book review
Published in Small Wars & Insurgencies (Ahead of Print, 2025)
www.tandfonline.com
July 11, 2025 at 12:38 AM
A sincere thank you to Dr. Lawrence Cline for their review of my book, The Combination of All Forms of Struggle: Insurgent Legitimation and State Response to FARC, in Small Wars and Insurgencies. It's wonderful to see parallels drawn to the FMLN 👇
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Thank you so much RUSI for hosting our event, Peace or Profit? Illicit Economies and Armed Conflict in Colombia and Beyond. It was a fantastic event with such great insight from our audience, which Jose, Jenny, Michael, Antonio and I are very grateful for.
June 25, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Thank you so much RUSI for hosting our event, Peace or Profit? Illicit Economies and Armed Conflict in Colombia and Beyond. It was a fantastic event with such great insight from our audience, which Jose, Jenny, Michael, Antonio and I are very grateful for.
I was interviewed by E-IR about my work on insurgent legitimation, political violence in Colombia and the nexus between gendered-radicalisation and technology 👇
www.e-ir.info/2025/06/17/i...
www.e-ir.info/2025/06/17/i...
Interview - Alexandra Phelan
Alexandra Phelan explores insurgent legitimation, gender, and political violence, with a focus on Latin America, terrorism, and post-conflict transitions.
www.e-ir.info
June 17, 2025 at 10:34 PM
I was interviewed by E-IR about my work on insurgent legitimation, political violence in Colombia and the nexus between gendered-radicalisation and technology 👇
www.e-ir.info/2025/06/17/i...
www.e-ir.info/2025/06/17/i...
🚨 In London on the 25 June? I am extremely excited to announce our research collaboration event, Peace or Profit? Illicit Economies and Armed Conflict in Colombia and Beyond, with @rusi.bsky.social's Organised Crime and Policing team 👇
my.rusi.org/events/peace...
my.rusi.org/events/peace...
Peace or Profit? Illicit Economies and Armed Conflict in Colombia and Beyond
Can peace compete with profit? Join us to explore how illicit economies can derail peace processes, using Colombia’s experience to inform other conflict contexts.
my.rusi.org
June 1, 2025 at 10:43 PM
🚨 In London on the 25 June? I am extremely excited to announce our research collaboration event, Peace or Profit? Illicit Economies and Armed Conflict in Colombia and Beyond, with @rusi.bsky.social's Organised Crime and Policing team 👇
my.rusi.org/events/peace...
my.rusi.org/events/peace...
Reposted by Alexandra Phelan
New article out in New Media & Society: Dror Walter @drorwalter.bsky.social, Yotam Ophir @ophiryotam.bsky.social , Edu Fabregas, and I examine how the Wayfair conspiracy theory moved across platforms. We find Twitter and Reddit played very different roles.
journals.sagepub.com/eprint/KUIFU...
journals.sagepub.com/eprint/KUIFU...
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
journals.sagepub.com
May 29, 2025 at 1:28 PM
New article out in New Media & Society: Dror Walter @drorwalter.bsky.social, Yotam Ophir @ophiryotam.bsky.social , Edu Fabregas, and I examine how the Wayfair conspiracy theory moved across platforms. We find Twitter and Reddit played very different roles.
journals.sagepub.com/eprint/KUIFU...
journals.sagepub.com/eprint/KUIFU...
Now that all promotion outcomes have been communicated, I’m delighted to share that I’ve been promoted to Senior Lecturer in Politics and IR at Monash Uni, effective 1 July. I'm excited and incredibly grateful for a workplace and colleagues who support not only my research, but me as a person🙏🏼
May 16, 2025 at 3:20 AM
Now that all promotion outcomes have been communicated, I’m delighted to share that I’ve been promoted to Senior Lecturer in Politics and IR at Monash Uni, effective 1 July. I'm excited and incredibly grateful for a workplace and colleagues who support not only my research, but me as a person🙏🏼
Reposted by Alexandra Phelan
🚨NEW🚨
@surajlakhani.bsky.social and my new edited collection is out! Hard copy available in a few months. academic.oup.com/book/60071
@surajlakhani.bsky.social and my new edited collection is out! Hard copy available in a few months. academic.oup.com/book/60071
The Sociology of Violent Extremism: Theoretical and Sociological Approaches
This book is an essential collection addressing key challenges in studying violent extremism. Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, terrorism
academic.oup.com
May 15, 2025 at 1:43 PM
🚨NEW🚨
@surajlakhani.bsky.social and my new edited collection is out! Hard copy available in a few months. academic.oup.com/book/60071
@surajlakhani.bsky.social and my new edited collection is out! Hard copy available in a few months. academic.oup.com/book/60071
🚨Discount code below👇🏼 and thank you @craigwhiteside.bsky.social for your review!🚨
Now available! This book sheds new light on the Colombian conflict and provides rich theoretical understanding of the role of legitimacy in counterinsurgency more broadly. buff.ly/fIXy1wN #Colombia #FARC #Insurgency #Legitimacy #Negotiations #Counterinsurgency
April 28, 2025 at 3:46 AM
🚨Discount code below👇🏼 and thank you @craigwhiteside.bsky.social for your review!🚨
Reposted by Alexandra Phelan
Link to my book talk with my friend Omar Mohammed from GWU's Program on Extremism theisisreader.substack.com/p/violent-no...
Violent Non-State Special Operations: a book talk
April 24, 2025 recording of a book talk with GWU Program on Extremism
theisisreader.substack.com
April 25, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Link to my book talk with my friend Omar Mohammed from GWU's Program on Extremism theisisreader.substack.com/p/violent-no...
A friendly reminder that applications close on 19th April for the candidate to start in mid July! We are a fantastic section and you'll love working with us 😊
🚨Come work with us! Our Politics and IR department at Monash Uni is hiring a Level B for a 3 year fixed-term position. Applicants with expertise in politics and/or international relations are encouraged 👇🚨
careers.pageuppeople.com/513/cw/en/jo...
careers.pageuppeople.com/513/cw/en/jo...
Job Search
careers.pageuppeople.com
April 8, 2025 at 5:39 AM
A friendly reminder that applications close on 19th April for the candidate to start in mid July! We are a fantastic section and you'll love working with us 😊
🚨Come work with us! Our Politics and IR department at Monash Uni is hiring a Level B for a 3 year fixed-term position. Applicants with expertise in politics and/or international relations are encouraged 👇🚨
careers.pageuppeople.com/513/cw/en/jo...
careers.pageuppeople.com/513/cw/en/jo...
Job Search
careers.pageuppeople.com
April 4, 2025 at 1:53 AM
🚨Come work with us! Our Politics and IR department at Monash Uni is hiring a Level B for a 3 year fixed-term position. Applicants with expertise in politics and/or international relations are encouraged 👇🚨
careers.pageuppeople.com/513/cw/en/jo...
careers.pageuppeople.com/513/cw/en/jo...
Reposted by Alexandra Phelan
Check out my new article for CTC Sentinel: "The New Syrian Government’s Fight Against the Islamic State, Hezbollah, and Captagon" ctc.westpoint.edu/the-new-syri...
The New Syrian Government’s Fight Against the Islamic State, Hezbollah, and Captagon - Combating Terrorism Center at West Point
Abstract: Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s background as a former branch of the Islamic State and al-Qa`ida has created a perception that it is untrustworthy when it comes to security concerns of the United Sta...
ctc.westpoint.edu
March 28, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Check out my new article for CTC Sentinel: "The New Syrian Government’s Fight Against the Islamic State, Hezbollah, and Captagon" ctc.westpoint.edu/the-new-syri...
Reposted by Alexandra Phelan
New article out with Don Rassler in the CTC Sentinal: “On the Horizon: The Ukraine War and the Evolving Threat of Drone Terrorism.”
We explore how Ukraine has become a proving ground for drone warfare—and what that means for future terrorist threats.
ctc.westpoint.edu/on-the-horiz...
We explore how Ukraine has become a proving ground for drone warfare—and what that means for future terrorist threats.
ctc.westpoint.edu/on-the-horiz...
On the Horizon: The Ukraine War and the Evolving Threat of Drone Terrorism - Combating Terrorism Center at West Point
Abstract: This article analyzes the evolution of terrorist drone usage and forecasts its future trajectory in light of the tactical and technological innovations emerging from the Russo-Ukrainian War....
ctc.westpoint.edu
March 28, 2025 at 5:52 PM
New article out with Don Rassler in the CTC Sentinal: “On the Horizon: The Ukraine War and the Evolving Threat of Drone Terrorism.”
We explore how Ukraine has become a proving ground for drone warfare—and what that means for future terrorist threats.
ctc.westpoint.edu/on-the-horiz...
We explore how Ukraine has become a proving ground for drone warfare—and what that means for future terrorist threats.
ctc.westpoint.edu/on-the-horiz...
Reposted by Alexandra Phelan
🚨Thrilled to share our new research note: "In the Trenches: A Hands-on Approach to Teaching Data Collection in Terrorism Studies." Co-authored w/ Dr. Sarah Carthy & based on a course that trained 400+ grad students at Leiden in open source data collection.
pt.icct.nl/article/tren...
pt.icct.nl/article/tren...
In the Trenches: A Hands-on Pedagogical Approach to Teaching Data Collection Skills in Terrorism Studies | Perspectives on Terrorism
The burgeoning availability of open-source information on individuals who have been radicalised offers new opportunities to build, expand, and disaggregate rich databases on the characteristics of the...
pt.icct.nl
March 26, 2025 at 2:25 PM
🚨Thrilled to share our new research note: "In the Trenches: A Hands-on Approach to Teaching Data Collection in Terrorism Studies." Co-authored w/ Dr. Sarah Carthy & based on a course that trained 400+ grad students at Leiden in open source data collection.
pt.icct.nl/article/tren...
pt.icct.nl/article/tren...
It's finally here 😭 my labour of love! This book wouldn't have been possible without the help and support of so many people, in Colombia and abroad. I'm so excited to share my
@columbiaup.bsky.social book,The Combination of All Forms of Struggle, with you...
cup.columbia.edu/book/the-com...
@columbiaup.bsky.social book,The Combination of All Forms of Struggle, with you...
cup.columbia.edu/book/the-com...
March 12, 2025 at 3:55 AM
It's finally here 😭 my labour of love! This book wouldn't have been possible without the help and support of so many people, in Colombia and abroad. I'm so excited to share my
@columbiaup.bsky.social book,The Combination of All Forms of Struggle, with you...
cup.columbia.edu/book/the-com...
@columbiaup.bsky.social book,The Combination of All Forms of Struggle, with you...
cup.columbia.edu/book/the-com...
At #ISA2025? A little birdie told me that you can catch this one in the wild at the @columbiaup.bsky.social stand! 🇨🇴
March 4, 2025 at 8:30 PM
At #ISA2025? A little birdie told me that you can catch this one in the wild at the @columbiaup.bsky.social stand! 🇨🇴
Happening tomorrow! Come join me at RSIS to talk about my new book, The Combination of All Forms of Struggle, moderated by Prof. Kumar Ramakrishna 👇🏼
February 17, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Happening tomorrow! Come join me at RSIS to talk about my new book, The Combination of All Forms of Struggle, moderated by Prof. Kumar Ramakrishna 👇🏼