Participation at the 5th ISA Forum of Sociology in Morocco

July 2025

In early July 2025, our postdoctoral researcher and Jean Monnet Module leader, Dr. Janja Mikulan, participated in the 5th International Sociological Association (ISA) Forum of Sociology, held for the first time in the MENA region — at Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco. The Forum brought together more than 4,000 sociologists from around the world.

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🔬 Dr. Mikulan actively contributed to two research sessions, presenting papers based on her postdoctoral research on radicalization and violent extremism through the lens of trauma, funded by the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency (ARIS).

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📌 In the first paper, she highlighted that radicalization is not merely a result of ideological indoctrination, but often a psychosocial response to trauma — serving as a mechanism for reconstructing identity.

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📌 In the second paper, she emphasized the importance of social identity in understanding the life trajectories of former fighters in Lebanon (Salafi-Jihadism) and their paths into radicalization. Trauma, she argued, is not only a personal experience, but deeply intertwined with power dynamics, collective grievances, and social suffering.

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🤝 The Forum also provided an excellent opportunity for networking with outstanding international colleagues and discussing possibilities for future collaboration.

Warm congratulations to Dr. Mikulan for her successful presentations and sincere thanks for her important contribution to enhancing the international visibility of SASS in the global academic community! 🌍👏