In the spring of 2022, Rachel earned MA degrees in English and Political Science with a minor in Middle Eastern Studies from Drury University. She is now completing her Advanced MSc in International Relations and Diplomacy at the Institute of Global Affairs, Leiden University, located in The Hague. Much of Rachel’s research has examined the role of social and political inclusion of Islamist organisations in Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Jordan, and Palestine. Additionally, she has spent considerable time investigating the role of third-party mediation in longstanding MENA conflicts, especially where negotiation has proven unsuccessful. Rachel is also an intermediate-level Arabic speaker, having taken four years of courses taught by native speakers.
Flavie Curinier holds a BA in International Studies with a focus on the MENA region from Leiden University. She is currently completing her MSc in Crisis and Security Management: Governance of Radicalism, Extremism, and Terrorism at the Institute of Global Affairs, Leiden University. Her main research interests include radicalization, extremism, and terrorism, with a focus on understanding the structural and psychological factors leading to violent actions. She is also interested in the MENA region, specifically its international relations and the vacuums of power that create opportunities for violent armed groups to gain control. Her interest further focuses on France in the context of Islamophobia and extremism. Born and raised in France, Flavie is fluent in French, English, and Spanish, as well as a beginner in Arabic.