Peter Simi

Peter Simi is a Professor of Sociology at Chapman University, affiliated with the Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. He is also a researcher for the National Counterterrorism, Innovation, Technology & Education Center (NCITE) at the University of Nebraska, Omaha, which is funded by the Department of Homeland Security and dedicated to studying terrorism in the United States and globally.

His educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts from Washington State University, a Master of Arts from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and a Ph.D. from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. This academic foundation has supported his extensive research career focused on extremist movements.

Dr. Simi has conducted research on extremist groups and violence for over 25 years, specializing in white supremacist movements, political extremism, and gang violence. His research combines ethnographic methods with large-scale data analysis to understand the processes of radicalization and deradicalization. He has conducted extensive interviews and observations with members of violent gangs and political extremist groups, providing unique insights into these hidden communities.

His recent publications demonstrate a strong interdisciplinary focus, spanning sociology, criminology, political science, and psychology. His work examines cognitive pathways to racist beliefs, the role of adverse childhood experiences in extremism, white supremacist humor as resistance, and the growing threat of political violence against public officials. Dr. Simi's research reveals how extremist beliefs form through both intuitive and deliberate cognitive processes, and how they persist across time and space.

Dr. Simi is co-author of two significant books: "American Swastika: Inside the White Power Movement's Hidden Spaces of Hate" (third edition, 2024) and "Out of Hiding: Extremist White Supremacy and How It Can be Stopped." These works represent major contributions to understanding white supremacist movements in the United States, combining empirical research with practical insights for intervention and prevention.

As an expert in his field, Dr. Simi frequently serves as a legal consultant on criminal and civil cases related to political extremism. His research has important practical applications for law enforcement, counterterrorism efforts, and policy development aimed at preventing violent extremism and supporting individuals seeking to leave extremist movements. His work with NCITE connects academic research to practical counterterrorism applications, bridging the gap between scholarly analysis and real-world security challenges.

Through his publications and expert testimony, Dr. Simi contributes significantly to both academic understanding and practical responses to the challenges of extremism in contemporary society, with particular attention to the evolving threat landscape in American politics and institutions.