Alex Wilner

Expert Overview

Dr. Alex S. Wilner is an Assistant Professor of International Relations at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs (NPSIA), Carleton University. He teaches classes on Intelligence, International Affairs, and Strategic Foresight.  Professor Wilner’s research primarily focuses on the application of deterrence theory to contemporary security issues, like terrorism, violent radicalization, organized crime, cyber threats, and proliferation. His books include Deterring Rational Fanatics(University of Pennsylvania Press, 2015), and Deterring Terrorism: Theory and Practice (eds., Stanford University Press, 2012), and he has published articles in International Security, NYU Journal of International Law and Politics, Security Studies, Journal of Strategic Studies, Comparative Strategy, and Studies in Conflict and Terrorism. His commentaries have appeared in the Globe and Mail, National Post, Ottawa Citizen, Embassy, Vanguard, and BBC News. Prior to joining NPSIA, Professor Wilner held a variety of positions at Policy Horizons Canada – the Government of Canada’s strategic foresight lab – the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto, the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) at the University of Maryland, and the ETH Zurich in Switzerland.