Khaoula El Khalil

I am a PhD candidate in Political Science at McGill University specializing in violent extremism, radicalization, and political violence. My doctoral research, funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), examines how extremist actors construct, stage, and disseminate narratives before, during, or after acts of violence, with particular attention to manifestos, digital traces, symbolic artifacts, visual codes, and online subcultures.

My work focuses on the gamification of violent extremism, analyzing how extremist actors draw on video game aesthetics, language, and mechanics to legitimize, circulate, and normalize political violence.

Alongside my academic work, I serve as a Research Advisor at Villes sans violence.

I also have experience in external relations within the Canadian federal government, having worked as an External Relations Officer at Defence Research and Development Canada, Valcartier Research Centre. In this role, I supported research partnerships, agreement development, and intellectual property management within the Department of National Defence.

I am a member of the Centre for the Study of Democratic Citizenship and the Extremism & Gaming Research Network.