Dr. Julie Chernov Hwang is an Associate Professor of Political Science and International Relations at Goucher College. She is a Senior Research Fellow at the Soufan Center & a Harry Frank Guggenheim Distinguished Scholar.
Dr. Chernov Hwang has spent more than a decade researching terrorist behavior, notably social networks, radicalization, commitment, disengagement, rehabilitation, reintegration and deradicalization in Southeast Asia.
In her capacity as a Senior Research Fellow for the Soufan Center, she has been focusing particularly on trends in terrorism in Southeast Asia, repatriation, rehabilitation and deradicalization.
Her project for the Harry Frank Guggenheim Distinguished Scholar Award examines how ISIS, Al Qaeda, and Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist cells have been constructed & what relationships are the greatest predictors of recruitment into terrorism.
Dr. Chernov Hwang has published several books on terrorism, including Why Terrorists Quit: The Disengagement of Indonesian Jihadists (Cornell University Press 2018) and Becoming Jihadis: Radicalization and Commitment in Southeast Asia (Oxford University Press 2023).
Her articles have been published in Political Psychology, Terrorism and Political Violence, Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, Political Psychology, Asian Security, Asian Survey, Southeast Asia Research, Asia-Pacific Issues, CTC Sentinel, Foreign Policy, Intel Briefs, the Washington Post, Nationalism and Ethnic Politics and Katha.
Her Guggenheim Distinguished Scholar project uses social network analysis to analyze how ISIS, Al Qaeda, and Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist cells recruit their core members, support teams and suicide bombers & what relationships are the greatest predictors of recruitment into terrorism cross-nationally, cross-regionally, and cross-organizationally.
A second project proposes a more precise definition and way to measure the deradicalization process in order to build a common set of indicators to assess across cases. It will also draw on cases from Southeast Asian Islamist extremists and white supremacists in order to highlight two pathways via which formers come to change their perspective and pluralize the views they once held.
Chernov Hwang, J. (2023) Becoming Jihadis: Radicalization and Commitment in Southeast Asia. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Chernov Hwang, J (2018) Why Terrorists Quit: The Disengagement of Indonesian Jihadists. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.
Mecham, Q and Chernov Hwang, J. (2014). Islamist Parties and Political Normalization in the Muslim World. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.
Chernov Hwang, J (2011). Umat Bergerak: Mobilisasi Damai Kaum Islamis di Indonesia, Malaysia dan Turki. Jakarta: Freedom Institute for Democracy, Nationalism and Market Studies.
Chernov Hwang, J. (2009), Peaceful Islamist Mobilization in the Muslim World: What Went Right. New York: Palgrave Press. Paperback December 2011 with new epilogue.
Kirsten E. Schulze and Chernov Hwang, J, “Poso’s Second Jihad: The Local, the National and the Global.” Under Review at Asian Security.
Chernov Hwang, J. and Schulze, K. (2024) “Indonesian Jihadi Training Camps: Home and Away.” Studies in Conflict and Terrorism. Published Online, January 8, 2024.
Chernov Hwang, J. and Schulze K. (2024). “Special Issue on Radical and Militant Islam in Indonesia.” Studies in Conflict and Terrorism. Published Online, January 8, 2024.
Chernov Hwang, J. (2022) “Why Jihadists Switch: Social Ties, Ideological Affinity and Opportunity.” Studies in Conflict and Terrorism. Published Online: September 21, 2022.
Kenney M, and Chernov Hwang, J. (2021) “Should I Stay or Should I Go: Understanding How Indonesian and British Extremists Disengage and Why They Don’t.” Political Psychology 42:4 p537-553.
Fair, C., Chernov Hwang, J., and Ahmad, M. (2020) “Lineaments of Support for Suicide Terrorism among Indonesians: A Replication Study.” Asian Security. 16:3 p281-303.
Chernov Hwang, J. (2019) “Dakwah before Jihad: Understanding the Behavior of Jemaah Islamiyah,” Contemporary Southeast Asia. 41:1 p14-34.
Chernov Hwang, J. (2018), “Pathways into Terrorism: Joining Islamist Extremist Groups in Asia,” a special issue of Terrorism and Political Violence. First published online July 6, 2018.
Chernov Hwang, J. and Schulze, K. (2018), “Why They Join: Pathways to Entry among Indonesian Jihadists.” in Pathways into Terrorism, a Special Issue of Terrorism and Political Violence. First published online July 6, 2018.
Chernov Hwang, J. (2017), “The Disengagement of Jihadists in Indonesia: Understanding the Pathways.” Terrorism and Political Violence. 29:2 p277-295.
Chernov Hwang, J., Panggabean, R., and Ali Fauzi, I. (2013) “When We Were Separated, We Began to Think for Ourselves Again: The Disengagement of Jihadis in Poso, Indonesia,” Asian Survey. 53:4 p754-777.
Chernov Hwang, J. (2010) “When Parties Swing: Islamist Parties and Institutional Moderation in Malaysia and Indonesia,” Southeast Asia Research, 18:4. P635-674.
Chernov Hwang, J. and Sadiq, K. (2010). “Legislating Separation and Solidarity in Plural Societies: The Chinese in Indonesia and Malaysia,” Nationalism and Ethnic Politics. 16:2. p192-215.
Chernov Hwang, J. (2007) “Islamic Mobilization and the Malaysian State,” Katha: The Official Journal of the Centre for Civilizational Dialogue. 3:1 p45-64.
Chernov, Julie. (2003). “Plural Society Revisited: Chinese-Indigenous Relations in Southeast Asia.” Nationalism and Ethnic Politics, 9:2 p103-127.
Chernov Hwang, J. (2024) “Guides, Interviews, Ethics: Conducting Fieldwork with Islamist Extremists in Indonesia” in A Research Agenda for Terrorism Studies. Eds. Andrew Silke, John Morrison and Lara Frumkin. London: Edward Elgar.
Chernov Hwang, J. (2024) “Fieldwork in Fragile Contexts and with High-Risk Populations: Ethics, Relationships and Rapport” in Doing Good Qualitative Research. Eds. Sara Goodman and Jennifer Cyr. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Chernov Hwang, J. (2024) “The State of Deradicalization Programs in Indonesia: An Assessment.” In Routledge Handbook on Radicalization and Countering Radicalization. Eds. Sarah Marsden, Joel Bushner and Leena Maliki. London: Routledge.
Schulze, K. and Chernov Hwang, J. (2020) “How the Global Remains Local: ISIS in Indonesia,” in Exporting Jihad: Critical Perspectives from the Periphery Eds. Tom Smith and Kirsten Schulze. London: IB Taurus.
Mecham Q. and Chernov Hwang, J. (2014) “Introduction: The Emergence and Development of Islamist Parties,” in Islamist Parties and Political Normalization in the Muslim World. Eds. Quinn Mecham and Julie Chernov Hwang. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. P1-17.
Chernov Hwang, J. (2014). “Patterns of Normalization: The Behavior of Islamist Political Parties in Indonesia” in Islamist Parties and Political Normalization in the Muslim World, Eds. Quinn Mecham and Julie Chernov Hwang. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. P58-8.3
Chernov Hwang, J. and Mecham Q. (2014) “Conclusion: The New Dynamism of Islamist Parties,” in Islamist Parties and Political Normalization in the Muslim World, Eds. Quinn Mecham and Julie Chernov Hwang. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. P175-192.
Chernov Hwang, J. (2012) “Islamic Identity, Yes, Islamist Parties, No: The Mainstreaming of Political Islam and its Challenge for Islamist Parties in Indonesia” in The Multicultural Dilemma: Migration, Ethnic Politics and State Intermediation. Ed. Michelle Williams, London: Routledge. P84-99.
Chernov Hwang, J. (2008) “Education and Social Cohesion in Malaysia and Indonesia,” in Religious Diversity and Civil Society: A Comparative Analysis. Ed. Bryan Turner. Oxford: Bardwell Press.
Chernov Hwang, J. “Deradicalization Revisited: Unpacking Terminology and Pathways.”
Chernov Hwang, J. “How Terror Cells are Constructed: Lessons from Indonesia.”
Chernov Hwang, J. “Facilitator, Ideologue, Networker: Hambali’s Role in Indonesian Terrorism.”
Chernov Hwang, J. “Terrorism Trends in Southeast Asia.” The Soufan Center Intel Brief. June 18, 2024.
Chernov Hwang, J. “The US and the Philippines Strengthen Ties as a Bulwark to Counter China.” The Soufan Center Intel Brief. May 30, 2024.
Chernov Hwang, J. “As Thousands Remain in Detention Camps in Syria, Repatriation Must be Prioritized.” The Soufan Center IntelBrief. May 24, 2024.
Chernov Hwang, J. and Colin Clarke, “20 Years After the Bali Bombing: What are the Lessons Learned for Counter-Terrorism?” Foreign Policy. October 12, 2022.
Chernov Hwang, J. “Relatives, Redemption and Rice: Motivations for Joining the Maute Group.” CTC Sentinel. September 10, 2019.
Chernov Hwang, J. “New Research Shows Why Terrorists Quit Terrorism.” Monkey Cage at the Washington Post. July 12, 2018.
Chernov Hwang, J. “The Unintended Consequences of Amending Indonesia’s Anti-Terrorism Law,” Lawfare, October 1, 2017.
Chernov Hwang, J. “Why Banning Extremist Groups is Dangerous for Indonesia,” Monkey Cage at the Washington Post. July 19, 2017.
Chernov Hwang, J. “Jihadist Disengagement from Violence: Understanding the Contributing Factors.” RSIS Commentaries CO16139. June 9, 2016.
Chernov Hwang, J. and Ismail, N. “There and Back Again: Indonesian Fighters in Syria.” Middle East Asia Project. January 24, 2015.
Chernov Hwang, J., “Terrorism in Perspective: An Assessment of Jihad Project Trends in Indonesia” Asia-Pacific Issues #104, September 2012.
Chernov Hwang, J. “Turning Away from Terror.” Inside Indonesia. July 2013.
Chernov Hwang, J. “When Islamists Mobilize-What Went Right.” Democracy Digest, February 3, 2012.
“Jihadist Disengagement from Violence: Understanding the Contributing Factors.” RSIS Commentaries CO16139. June 9, 2016.
“There and Back Again: Indonesian Fighters in Syria.” Middle East Asia Project. January 24, 2015
"Patterns of Normalization: The Behavior of Islamist Political Parties in Indonesia" to be published in Playing by the Rules: Islamist Parties in Asia and the Middle East, Edited by Julie Chernov Hwang and Quinn Mecham. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press © 2014.
“Terrorism in Perspective: An Assessment of Jihad Project Trends in Indonesia” Asia-Pacific Issues #104, September 2012.
"Islamic Identity, Yes, Islamist Parties, No: The Mainstreaming of Political Islam and its Challenge for Islamist Parties in Indonesia" in The Multicultural Dilemma: Migration, Ethnic Politics and State Intermediation. Ed. Michelle Williams, London: Routledge. © 2012.
"Education and Social Cohesion in Malaysia and Indonesia," in Religious Diversity and Civil Society: A Comparative Analysis. Ed. Bryan Turner. Oxford: Bardwell Press. © 2008.
Smith Richardson Grant to study the processes via which Indonesians and Malaysians are joining Islamist extremist groups ($190,500) (2017-2019)
Crosby Grant, Goucher College, ($1500), (Summer 2015, 2011)
Summer Faculty Research Grant, Goucher College, ($3500), (Summer 2012)
US-Indonesia Society Travel Grant for research in Central Sulawesi ($2500) Summer 2011
Chernov Hwang, J. “Creating Standards in P/CVE: Dissemination, Buy-in, and Implementation.” Involving Formers: Creating Standards and Guidelines in P/CVE joint workshop, NYU and the University of Leeds. July 15-16, 2024.
Chernov Hwang, J. “The Role of Training Camps in Participating in Violent High Risk Activism.” Presented at the International Studies Association Annual Meeting , San Francisco, CA April 1-3, 2024.
Chernov Hwang, J. “The Reintegration Roadmap: What the World Can Learn from Indonesia” Presented at the Eradicate Hate Summit. Pittsburgh, PA September 26-29, 2023.
Chernov Hwang, J. “The Role of Formers in CVE Interventions: Lessons from Indonesia and Beyond.” Presented at the AVERT Research Symposium, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia, November 21-22, 2022.
Chernov Hwang, J. “Emerging Terrorism FTF Trends in Southeast Asia: Projections for the Post-Pandemic Period.” Presented at Threats Posed by Foreign Terrorist Fighters and Their Local Affiliates in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. UNODC-AUSAID Conference. Bali, Indonesia. October 11-12, 2022.
Chernov Hwang, J. “The Role of Formers in Peer Counseling: Assessing Benefits and Needs.” Presented at the Eradicate Hate Summit. September 19-21, 2022.
Chernov Hwang, J. “Why Jihadis Switch: Social Ties, Ideological Affinity and Opportunity.” Presented at the American Political Science Association Annual Meeting. Montreal, Canada, September 15-18, 2022.
Chernov Hwang, J. “Why They Join: Entry into Indonesian, Malaysian and Filipino Islamist Extremist Groups.” Presented at the International Studies Association Annual Meeting. Nashville, Tennessee. March 29-April 2, 2022.
Chernov Hwang, J. “Formers in Comparative Perspective: Indonesia.” Presented at the Role of Formers in P/CVE Building.” Joint Workshop by START at the University of Maryland and the University of Leeds. February 17-18, 2022.
Chernov Hwang, J. and Kenney, M, “How Indonesian and British Extremists Deradicalize.” Presented at the American Political Science Association Annual Meeting. Washington DC, August 28-31, 2019.
Chernov Hwang, J. “Understanding the Changing Landscape of Islamist Extremism in Indonesia,” presented at the International Studies Association Annual Meeting, March 27-30, 2019
Chernov Hwang, J. “Deradicalization Revisited: Lessons from Indonesia.” presented at the International Studies Association Annual Meeting, March 27-30, 2019
Chernov Hwang, J. “Why They Join: The Pathways to Entry among Indonesian Jihadists,” Presented at the International Studies Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, California April 4-7, 2018
Chernov Hwang, J. “The State and Civil Society in Indonesia: Divergent Approaches to Counter Terrorism.” Presented at the International Studies Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, California April 4-7, 2018
Chernov Hwang, J. “Indonesian Foreign Fighters: Comparing the Afghan and Syrian Generations.” Foreign Fighters: New Directions and Challenges Workshop. Elliott School of International Affairs. George Washington University. March 6-7, 2018
Chernov Hwang, J. “The Disengagement and Reintegration of Indonesian Jihadists.” Militant Islam in Southeast Asia. Workshop. London School of Economics. London, UK. January 19, 2018
Chernov Hwang, J. “Why Indonesians Become Members of Islamist Extremist Groups,” Association for Asian Studies Annual Meeting, Toronto, CA March 16-19, 2017
Chernov Hwang, J. “Why They Join: Indonesian Participation in Islamist Extremist Movements.” International Studies Association Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD February 23-25, 2017
Chernov Hwang, J. “Pathways to Entry: Joining a Terrorist Group in Indonesia.” International Studies Association, Atlanta, GA, March 16-19, 2016
Chernov Hwang, J. “The Role of the State and Civil Society in Disengagement Initiatives,” International Studies Association Annual Meeting. Atlanta, Georgia, March 16-19, 2016
Chernov Hwang, J. “The Importance of Belonging: The Relationship between Joining ISIS and Affiliation.” Association for Asian Studies Annual Meeting. Seattle, WA, March 30-April 3, 2016
Chernov Hwang, J. “We Need to Make Friends, Not Create Enemies: Why Jihadis Turn Away from Terror Tactics.” Association for Asian Studies in Asia, Singapore July 17-19, 2014
Chernov Hwang, J. “Life Histories of Radicalization and Disengagement Amid the Ambon and Poso Conflicts: A Tale of Four Jihadis.” Association for Asian Studies Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, March 27-30, 2014
Chernov Hwang, J. “Introduction: Reconsidering Violence: The Disengagement of Indonesian Jihadists,” International Studies Association, San Francisco, CA, April 4-7 2013
Chernov Hwang, J. “Islamic Identity, Yes, Islamist Parties, No: The Mainstreaming of Political Islam and its Challenge for Islamist Parties in Indonesia” International Political Science Association, Madrid, Spain, July 8-12, 2012
Chernov Hwang, J. “The Disengagement of Indonesian Jihadists: Understanding the Pathways.” Association for Asian Studies Annual Meeting, Toronto, Canada, March 16-18, 2012
Chernov Hwang, J. “Reconsidering Amaliyat: The Disengagement of Militants From Jemaah Islamiyah and KOMPAK” Indonesian Terrorism in a Global Context Workshop, Australia National University, Canberra, ACT, December 5-6, 2011
Chernov Hwang, J., Panggabean, R., and Ali Fauzi, I. “When We Were Separated, We Began to Think for Ourselves Again: The Disengagement of Jihadis in Poso, Indonesia,” Association for Asian Studies Annual Meeting, Honolulu, Hawaii, March 31-April 4, 2011
Chernov Hwang, J. and Mecham, Q., “What Affects the Electoral Success of Islamist Parties? Explaining the Divergent Trajectories of the PKS in Indonesia and the AKP in Turkey.” Association for Asian Studies, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, March 25-28, 2010,
UN Office of Drugs and Crime.
Bureau of Counter-Terrorism, US Department of State .
Bureau of East Asian Affairs, US Department of State.
US Embassy CVE Team, Jakarta.
Joint Improvised Threat Defeat Organization.
US Army Civil Affairs.
Naval Postgraduate School.
Combatting Terrorism Center at West Point.
Book Launches for Becoming Jihadis: Radicalization and Commitment in Southeast Asia. 2023.
The Soufan Center, New York, NY.
The Washington Institute, Washington DC.
The Council on Foreign Relations, Washington, DC.
The US-Indonesia Society, Washington DC.
The Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
School for Public Affairs, American University, Washington DC.
“How They Join: Understanding Entry into Islamist Extremist Groups in Indonesia and the Philippines.” Southeast Asian Studies Series University of Wisconsin-Madison. 2021.
“The Disengagement of Indonesian Jihadists.” Henry Jackson Society. 2021.
“Why They Join: Understanding Entry into Islamist Extremist Groups in Indonesia and the Philippines.” Washington Institute CVE Series. 2020.
“Why Jihadis Switch: A Typology for Understanding Inter-Group Migration.” Political Violence Workshop. American University School for International Service. 2019.
“Why They Join: Motivations and Pathways into Islamist Extremist Groups.” Smith College. 2019.
Book launches for Why Terrorists Quit: The Disengagement of Indonesian Jihadists. 2018-2019.
Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
John Jay College, CUNY, New York, New York.
American University, School of Public Affairs, Washington DC.
US-Indonesia Society/Johns Hopkins-SAIS joint event, Washington DC.
Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Institute for International Peacebuilding, Jakarta, Indonesia.
Naval Postgraduate School, Monterrey, CA.
New York Southeast Asia Network, NYU.
LeMoyne College, Syracuse, NY.
START at the University of Maryland, College Park.
George Washington University-Elliot School for International Affairs.
Georgetown University School of Foreign Service.
Book launches for Why Terrorists Quit: the Disengagement of Indonesian Jihadists. March-September 2018:
US-Indonesia Society/Johns Hopkins-SAIS joint event, Washington DC.
Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Institute for International Peacebuilding, Jakarta, Indonesia.
Naval Postgraduate School, Monterrey, CA
New York Southeast Asia Network, NYU.
LeMoyne College, Syracuse, NY.
START at the University of Maryland, College Park.
George Washington University-Elliot School for International Affairs.
Georgetown University School of Foreign Service.
“Disengaging Indonesian Jihadists: What Works.” Lecture at the US-Indonesia Society. July 20, 2016
“Disengagement in the Indonesian Jihadist Community: Jemaah Islamiyah, Mujahidin KOMPAK and Tanah Runtuh.” Public Lecture at RS Rajaratnam School for International Studies. Singapore. June 10, 2016
“The Disengagement and Reintegration of Indonesian Jihadists: Implications for Policy.” briefing for government officials, embassy staffer, think tank officials, and RSIS academics. RS Rajaratnam School for International Studies, Singapore. June 10, 2016
Briefing of US Embassy Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) Team. US Embassy, Jakarta. June 8, 2016
“Reconsidering Violence: The Disengagement of Indonesian Jihadists. Center for Middle East Studies and Global Peace at the State Islamic University-Syarif Hidayatullah, Ciputat, Indonesia June 2, 2016,
“Reconsidering Violence: The Disengagement of Indonesian Jihadists,” Universitas Islam Sebelas Maret, Bekasi Indonesia, June 2015
“Islamist Political Parties in the Middle East and Asia.” Brookings Institution. October 2014.
“Patterns of Disengagement among Indonesian Jihadists,” Institute for International Peace Building, Jakarta, Indonesia, January 18, 2012
“Relationships, Rational Analysis and Random Acts of Kindness: The Disengagement of Militants from Central Sulawesi,” Indonesia Studies Group, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia, December 7, 2011
“Counter-Terrorism Strategy in Indonesia: Adapting to a Changed Threat.” US-Indonesia Society, Washington DC, Thursday, November 17, 2011
“Assessing Violence: The Disengagement of Indonesian Jihadis,” East West Center, Washington DC, Tuesday, November 15, 2011.
“Salafi Jihadis in Southeast Asia: A Global Threat?” RAND Institute, October 6, 2011
American Political Science Association
Addressing Violent Extremism and Radicalization to Terrorism Research Network
International Studies Association
Associate Professor of Political Science and International Relations Julie Chernov Hwang has been selected as a 2024-25 Harry Frank Guggenheim Distinguished Scholar. Chernov Hwang will use the fellowship to build a database for conducting research on how ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and Indonesia's Jemaah Islamiyah construct terror cells.
Four Goucher College faculty members have been selected as the 2023 recipients of the Myra Berman Kurtz Fund for Faculty Research and Exploration of the Sciences (KRES Fund) Year of Exploration.