Xander Kirke

Xander Kirke is a researcher at Northumbria University specializing in the intersection of political myths, ontological security, and extremism. His work investigates how political myths are weaponized to radicalize individuals into terrorism, particularly through extremist materials like Inspire magazine. He employs existentialist and phenomenological frameworks to analyze the psychological allure of violence.

Recent projects explore the radical right's attempts to co-opt LGBTQ+ identities, focusing on cisgender homosexual demographics. His research also addresses ontological security in contexts like the pandemic and historical figures like Hans Blumenberg. Kirke holds a PhD in Politics (2017) and has contributed to conferences and peer-reviewed journals.

Key publications include analyses of far-right rhetoric adaptation, myth's role in security anxieties, and ideological frameworks in extremist recruitment. His work bridges philosophy, political theory, and contemporary security challenges.