Linda Schlegel

Researcher

Linda Schlegel is a Research Fellow at PRIF's Research Depart­ment Trans­national Politics and at modus Centre for Applied Research on Deradicali­zation. Her research focuses on gaming and (counter-)extremism, online radicali­zation, and narrative campaigns against extremism.

Linda Schlegel
schlegel(at)prif.org
 Press photo

CV

| since 2023
Co-project leader in the RadiGame project

| since 2022
Member of the Expert Pool of the Radicali­sation Aware­ness Networks (RAN)

| since 2021
Founding member of the Extremism and Gaming Research Network (EGRN)

| since 2021
Research fellow at the modus Centre for Applied Research on Deradicali­sation

| 2021–2022
Senior researcher in a project on gaming and extremism at the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT)

| 2020–2023
Associate Fellow at PRIF

| 2020–2023
PhD student at Goethe University Frankfurt/M.

| 2020–2022
Associate fellow at the Global Net­work on Extremism and Techno­logy (GNET)

| 2019–2020
Senior editor for The Counter­terrorism Group

| 2018–2019
Specialist for counter-terrorism and conflict manage­ment at the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung

| 2016–2017
M.A. Extremism Studies at King's College London

| 2012–2015
B.A. Liberal Arts at University College Maastricht

Projects

Publications

  • “At least I tried, God damnit” and “Even a drop in the ocean is still more than nothing”: In their own words, what motivates people to work in P/CVE?
    | 2022
    Schlegel, Linda (2022): “At least I tried, God damnit” and “Even a drop in the ocean is still more than nothing”: In their own words, what motivates people to work in P/CVE?, Critical Studies on Terrorism. DOI: 10.1080/17539153.2022.2089399
  • Connecting, Competing, and Trolling: "User Types" in Digital Gamified Radicalization Processes
    | 2021
    Schlegel, Linda (2021): Connecting, Competing, and Trolling: "User Types" in Digital Gamified Radicalization Processes, Perspectives on Terrorism, 15: 4, 54-64.
    Publication
  • Storytelling against extremism
    | 2021
    Schlegel, Linda (2021): Storytelling against extremism. How fiction could increase the persuasive impact of counter- and alternative narratives in P/CVE, Journal for Deradicalization, 27.
    Publication
  • Jumanji Extremism? How games and gamification could facilitate radicalization processes
    | 2020
    Schlegel, Linda (2020): Jumanji Extremism? How games and gamification could facilitate radicalization processes, Journal for Deradicalization, 23.
    Publication
  • “Yes, I can”: what is the role of perceived self-efficacy in violent online-radicalisation processes of “homegrown” terrorists?
    | 2019
    Schlegel, Linda (2019): “Yes, I can”: what is the role of perceived self-efficacy in violent online-radicalisation processes of “homegrown” terrorists?, Dynamics of Asymmetric Conflict, 13: 3. DOI: 10.1080/17467586.2019.1700539
  • Fishermen or Swarm Dynamics? Should we understand jihadist online-radicalization as a top-down or bottom-up process?
    | 2017
    Baaken, Till; Schlegel, Linda (2017): Fishermen or Swarm Dynamics? Should we understand jihadist online-radicalization as a top-down or bottom-up process?, Journal for Deradicalization, 13, 178-212.
    Publication

  • Gesellschaftliche Widerstandsfähigkeit gegen Extremismus und Terrorismus
    | 2022
    Schlegel, Linda (2022): Gesellschaftliche Widerstandsfähigkeit gegen Extremismus und Terrorismus, in: Jost, Jannis; Krause, Joachim (eds), Jahrbuch Terrorismus, 9, 291–335. DOI: 10.3224/84742401.12
    Publication

  • Gaming and Extremism
    | 2024
    Kowert, Rahel; Schlegel, Linda (2024): Gaming and Extremism. The Radicalization of Digital Playgrounds, New York: Routledge. DOI: 10.4324/9781003388371
    Publication

  • Hate and Extremist Activities in the Video Game Sector
    | 2024
    Schlegel, Linda (2024): Hate and Extremist Activities in the Video Game Sector, in: European Audiovisual Observatory (eds), Legal challenges and market dynamics in the video game sector, Strasbourg: European Audiovisual Observatory, 135–145.
    Publication
  • Pixel, Politik, Polemik – Digitale Gaming-Welten als politische und gesellschaftliche Diskursräume
    | 2024
    Schlegel, Linda; von Eyb, Johannes (2024): Pixel, Politik, Polemik – Digitale Gaming-Welten als politische und gesellschaftliche Diskursräume, PRIF Blog.
    Publication
  • Streaming, Chatting, Modding: Eine Kurzexploration extremistischer Aktivitäten auf Gaming-und gaming-nahen Plattformen
    | 2024
    Winkler, Constantin; Wiegold, Lars; Schlegel, Linda; Jaskowski, Judith (2024): Streaming, Chatting, Modding: Eine Kurzexploration extremistischer Aktivitäten auf Gaming-und gaming-nahen Plattformen, Leibniz-Institut für Friedens- und Konfliktforschung (PRIF) Forschungsverbund RadiGaMe, Radikalisierung auf Online-Gaming-Plattformen und Messenger Diensten, Frankfurt/M.: Leibniz-Institut für Friedens- und Konfliktforschung (PRIF) Forschungsverbund RadiGaMe, Radikalisierung auf Online-Gaming-Plattformen und Messenger Diensten. DOI: 10.48809/radirep01
    Publication
  • Countering the misuse of gaming-related content & spaces: Inspiring practices and opportunities for cooperation with tech companies
    | 2022
    Schlegel, Linda (2022): Countering the misuse of gaming-related content & spaces: Inspiring practices and opportunities for cooperation with tech companies, Brussels: EU Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs – Radicalisation Awareness Network.
    Publication
  • Persuading with Fantasy: Why Digital P/CVE Narrative Campaigns May Benefit from Fictional Elements
    | 2022
    Schlegel, Linda (2022): Persuading with Fantasy: Why Digital P/CVE Narrative Campaigns May Benefit from Fictional Elements, Global Network on Extremism & Technology (GNET).
    Publication
  • Examining the Intersection Between Gaming and Violent Extremism
    | 2022
    Schlegel, Linda; Amarasingam, Amarnath (2022): Examining the Intersection Between Gaming and Violent Extremism, United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism: UN Counter-Terrorism Centre.
    Publication
  • Mind the Gap: What We Do and Don’t Know About Gaming and Radicalization
    | 2022
    Schlegel, Linda (2022): Mind the Gap: What We Do and Don’t Know About Gaming and Radicalization, The Geopolitics.
    Publication
  • Creating Digital Narrative Worlds: The Promises of Transmedia Storytelling for P/CVE Narrative Campaigns
    | 2022
    Schlegel, Linda (2022): Creating Digital Narrative Worlds: The Promises of Transmedia Storytelling for P/CVE Narrative Campaigns, Global Network on Extremism & Technology (GNET).
    Publication
  • Into the Dungeon? Possibilities for Primary and Secondary Prevention on Gaming (-Adjacent) Platforms
    | 2021
    Schlegel, Linda (2021): Into the Dungeon? Possibilities for Primary and Secondary Prevention on Gaming (-Adjacent) Platforms, Global Network on Extremism & Technology (GNET).
    Publication
  • Let’s Talk about Games, Baby: Extremist Use of Gaming (-Adjacent) Platforms
    | 2021
    Schlegel, Linda (2021): Let’s Talk about Games, Baby: Extremist Use of Gaming (-Adjacent) Platforms, Global Network on Extremism & Technology (GNET).
    Publication
  • As You Like It: User Types in Digital Gamified Radicalization Processes
    | 2021
    Schlegel, Linda (2021): As You Like It: User Types in Digital Gamified Radicalization Processes, PRIF Blog.
    Publication
  • Extremists’ use of gaming (adjacent) platforms
    | 2021
    Schlegel, Linda (2021): Extremists’ use of gaming (adjacent) platforms. Insights regarding primary and secondary prevention measures, Radicalisation Awareness Network.
    Publication
  • A Bookstore, Not a Customized Page: Why We Need More Variety, Not More Tailoring in Digital Narrative Campaigns Against Extremism
    | 2021
    Schlegel, Linda (2021): A Bookstore, Not a Customized Page: Why We Need More Variety, Not More Tailoring in Digital Narrative Campaigns Against Extremism, European Eye on Radicalization (EER).
    Publication
  • Competing, Connecting, Having Fun: How Gamification Could Make Extremist Content More Appealing
    | 2021
    Schlegel, Linda (2021): Competing, Connecting, Having Fun: How Gamification Could Make Extremist Content More Appealing, Global Network on Extremism & Technology (GNET).
    Publication
  • Telling tales against the dark arts: How fictional storytelling could support narrative campaigns against extremism
    | 2021
    Schlegel, Linda (2021): Telling tales against the dark arts: How fictional storytelling could support narrative campaigns against extremism, PRIF Blog.
    Publication
  • The Gamification of Violent Extremism & Lessons For P/CVE
    | 2021
    Schlegel, Linda (2021): The Gamification of Violent Extremism & Lessons For P/CVE, in: Radicalisation Awareness Network (eds): Radicalisation Awareness Network.
    Publication
  • Let’s play prevention: Can P/CVE turn the tables on extremists’ use of gamification?
    | 2021
    Schlegel, Linda (2021): Let’s play prevention: Can P/CVE turn the tables on extremists’ use of gamification?, PRIF Blog.
    Publication
  • Missing an epic story: Why we are struggling to counter extremists’ utopian narratives
    | 2021
    Schlegel, Linda (2021): Missing an epic story: Why we are struggling to counter extremists’ utopian narratives, PRIF Blog.
    Publication
  • The Trouble with Influencing Others: Why Persuasion Partly Depends on the Individual
    | 2021
    Schlegel, Linda (2021): The Trouble with Influencing Others: Why Persuasion Partly Depends on the Individual, European Eye on Radicalization (EER).
    Publication
  • Who Doesn’t Like a Good Story? Why Narratives Are Essential in Counter-extremism Efforts
    | 2021
    Schlegel, Linda (2021): Who Doesn’t Like a Good Story? Why Narratives Are Essential in Counter-extremism Efforts, The Geopolitics.
    Publication
  • Of Challengers and Socialisers: How User Types Moderate the Appeal of Extremist Gamified Applications
    | 2020
    Schlegel, Linda (2020): Of Challengers and Socialisers: How User Types Moderate the Appeal of Extremist Gamified Applications, Global Nework on Extremism & Technology (GNET).
    Publication
  • Online-Radikalisierung - Mythos oder Realität?
    | 2018
    Schlegel, Linda (2018): Online-Radikalisierung - Mythos oder Realität?, Analysen & Argumente: Terrorismusabwehr und innere Sicherheit.
    Publication
  • Digital natives and online identity construction: How does the Internet facilitate radicalization?
    | 2017
    Schlegel, Linda (2017): Digital natives and online identity construction: How does the Internet facilitate radicalization?, Wissenschaft und Sicherheit.
    Publication

  • The Role of Gamification in Radicalization Processes
    | 2021
    Schlegel, Linda (2021): The Role of Gamification in Radicalization Processes, modus|zad (modus Zentrum für angewandte Deradikalisierungsforschung), Working Paper 1/2021.
    Publication

Further Activities

| since 2022
Member of the expert pool of the Radicali­sation Aware­ness Network (RAN)

| since 2021
Member of the Extremism and Gaming Re­search Network (EGRN)

| since 2021
Member of GIFCT Working Groups:

  • 2021/2022: Positive Inter­ventions & Stra­tegic Communi­cation
  • 2022/2023: Blue Team Inter­ventions
  • 2024/2025: Gaming Community of Practice

  • Bellingcat Podcast (June 21, 2024): Extremism in Gaming Spaces. Online.
  • Extremism and Gaming Research Netw­ork Launch (October 6, 2021). Online.

  • United Nations Office Of Counter-Terrorism: Research Launch on Examining the Intersection between Gaming and Violent Extremism. Further information.
  • Radicalisation Awareness Network:
    • November 2022: Countering the misuse of gaming-related content & spaces: Inspiring practices and opportunities for cooperation with tech companies. Further information.
    • August 2021: Extremists’ use of gaming (adjacent) platforms: Insights regarding primary and secondary prevention measures. Further information.
    • March 2021: The gamification of violent extremism & lessons for P/CVE. Further information.