Alberto Testa

Professor Alberto Testa

Professor of Applied Criminology
School of Human and Social Sciences
alberto.testa@uwl.ac.uk

Alberto Testa is a criminologist and Far-right expert; he is a certified Forensic Interviewer (CFI-CISA, USA) and a full member of the Association of British Investigators (MABI). 

Professor Testa is also a specialist in applied behaviour analysis (deception/credibility) and cyber intelligence analysis. In all his studies, Professor Testa uses empirical evidence, so evidence is validated by direct experience from the “field”.  

In 2021, for his work on far-right extremism, Alberto was elected Fellow (FRAI) by the Council of the prestigious Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland. 

Widely considered an expert on far-right extremism/terrorism & far-right hooliganism & Ultras, Alberto is a regular media contributor. He has contributed to a wide range of media including the Washington Post; the New York Times; BBC; LBC RADIO; Sky News; CNN; CBS; the Voice of America and many others.  

Research Interests

  • Far-right : terrorism & policing 

  • Far-right : Football Hooliganism & Ultras 

  • Hate crime – Antisemitism & Islamophobia 

  • Mafia, Camorra, Ndrangheta & Policing 

  • Sport criminology : Antisemitism and racism in football. 

  • Sport and politics  

 

 

  • Qualifications

    • FRAI
    • PhD;
    • BSc (Hons)
    • CFI
    • CSP (Cert. Sociol. Practitioner)
    • PGCEHE
    • Cert.Soc.Sc (Open University)

  • Memberships

    The American Society of Criminology– Divisions: Biopsychosocial Criminology; Terrorism & Bias Crime
    The International Neuropsychoanalysis Society
    The Social Psychology Network
    MAXQDA Research Network

  • Research and publications

    Current research projects

    White Jihad ,Terrorism and the Far-right in Europe. Forthcoming paper: "The post-Tarrant world". Justifications for the Christchurch massacre" (2022). 

    Through the Magnifying Glass: Mapping Extremism in the Bosnian Football Terraces. (Research supported by the International Organization for Migration -United Nations and funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development -USAID). Forthcoming book: Football and Violent Extremism: An ethnographic study of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Ultras (Routledge- 2023). 

    On the streets of “Gomorrah” with the Falchi (Hawks). In this ethnographic work, criminologist Alberto Testa will explain the dangerous world of the “Falchi”, an elite motorcycle unit of the Italian Police which has battled against Italian organised crime since the 1970’s. 

    Esteem indicators

    Elected Fellow of the Royal Anthropological Institute 

    Expert participant at the European Commission Radicalisation Awareness Network (RAN) Centre of Excellence. Organisation set up by the European Commission as an EU-wide umbrella network of practitioners engaged in preventing and countering radicalisation to violent extremism. 

    Researcher at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies (RUSI). UK independent think tank engaged in cutting edge defence and security research. 

    UK representative at the Institute for National and International Security (INIS). INIS is an international think thank for Intelligence, National and International Security, Defence and Counterterrorism. INIS provides expertise in terrorism, counterterrorism, homeland security, threat vulnerability, risk assessment, intelligence analysis, national security and defence policy. 

    Editorial Board member of the Security Science Journal; the official peer-reviewed journal of the Institute for National and International Security 

    Media experience

    Professor Testa has an extensive media experience and have spoken about his studies and research on Television, Radio and the press. He is available for media contact about:

    • Criminology: Far-right extremism; Far-right terrorism and policing
    • Criminology: Football Hooliganism and the Far-right; Prevention & Policing
    • Sport Criminology: Antisemitism and Racism in football.

    Selected recent media contributions

    Alberto Testa; LBC Radio show with Sangita Myska. Topic: Merseyside riot and Patriotic Alternative (February 2023). 

    Alberto Testa; Sunday Post by Stephen Stewart. Topic: Braverman's claims of migrant invasion (November, 2022). 

    Alberto Testa; LBC Radio show with Sangita Myska. Topic: Giorgia Meloni and the Brothers of Italy Far Right party (September, 2022). 

    Alberto Testa; SBSNews: To the Extreme what happens. Comment on the “Victoria inquiry report 2022”. A Victorian parliamentary committee report on the far-right in the state of Victoria -Australia (September 2022). 

    Alberto Testa; The Washington Post: British white supremacist, initially sentenced to read Austen and Dickens, imprisoned for two years (January 2022).  

    Alberto Testa; LBC Radio News. Topic: The Taliban & the Far-Right propaganda (September, 2021). Blog post.

    Alberto Testa; The New York Times. Topic: London Police Officer Convicted of Membership in Neo-Nazi Group (April, 2021). 

    Alberto Testa; Politiken (leading Danish daily broadsheet newspaper). Topic: Ultras and Riots in Italy (November, 2020). 

    Alberto Testa; LBC show with Nick Ferrari; Topic :Comments on 'Systemic Islamophobia’ fuels terror attacks, say Muslim leaders' (March 2019) 

    Professor. Alberto Testa; SKY NEWS; Understanding the Far-Right Terrorist 'Mind'. Topic: Christchurch shootings: 49 dead in New Zealand mosque attacks (March 2019) 

    Professor. Alberto Testa; BBC SCOTLAND- The Nine; 'Far-Right Terrorism'. Topic: New Zealand Terrorist attack (March 2019) 

    Professor. Alberto Testa; Il Fatto Quotidiano; Interview in Italian about the psychological profile of Brenton Tarrant and militants of 'Siege/Resistance' mentality groups: Strage Nuova Zelanda, 'il killer Tarrant suprematista bianco come Breivik. Analogie tra loro e terroristi islamici'(March 2019) 

    Professor Alberto Testa; BBC Radio 5 live  show with Nihal Arthanayake; Topic: FA open investigation into alleged racist chants during Millwall win over Everton (January 2019) 

    Professor. Alberto Testa; TalkRadio show with George Galloway; Topic: Far-Right radicalisation and risk of Lone Wolf terrorism in U.K. (January 2019) 

    Professor. Alberto Testa; Safety & Security International: 'Battling the Boneheads' (The danger of the Far-Right). S&SI is the leading publication for the Counter-Terror and public safety communities; its audience comprises Security practitioners, policy-makers and professionals worldwide (December 2018) 

    Professor Alberto Testa; LBC show with Tom Swarbrick; Topic : Comments on the latest UK prosecution and conviction of members of the Far-Right National Action group (November 2018) 

    Professor. Alberto Testa; DAILY EXPRESS;Topic : 'Killing Eve (BBC Drama series): Do female assassins like Villanelle really exist? A Criminologist point of view' (October 2018). Interview Part 1; Part 2 

    Professor Alberto Testa; LBC show with Nick Ferrari; Topic: Comments on The increase number of white people arrested for ( Far-Right ) Terrorism (September 2018) 

    Professor. Alberto Testa; SPORT LOVE RADIO show with Kelvin MacKenzie; Topic: The Far-Right Rise and Terrorism danger in UK (September 2018) 

    Books

    Testa, A. (2023). Football and Violent Extremism: An ethnographic study of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Ultras : Routledge. 

    Porro, N.; Martelli S.; Testa, A. (2020). Sport, Welfare and Social Policy in the European Union. Routledge 

    Testa, A. and Sergi, A. (July 2018-hardback). Corruption, Mafia Power and Italian Soccer. Routledge. 

    Testa, A. and Amara, M. (2016). Sport in Islam and in Muslim Communities. Routledge. 

    Testa, A. and Armstrong, G. (2010). Football, Fascism and Fandom: The UltraS of Italian football. A and C Black Publishers Ltd 

    Selected peer reviewed scientific papers

    Testa, A. (forthcoming -2023). A view on Racial antisemitism in Italy? The Italian football case. In: Poulton, E. Antisemitism in Football: International Perspectives; Routledge. 

    Testa, A. (2022). Waves of Extremism: An Applied Ethnographic Analysis of the Bosnia and Herzegovina football terraces. Frontiers. 

    Testa, A. (2018). The All-Seeing Eye of State Surveillance in the Italian Football (Soccer) Terraces: The Case Study of the Football Fan Card. Surveillance and Society, 16 (1): 69-83. 

    Spaaiji, R. Testa, A. (2016). Hooliganism. In: Hughson, J.; Maguire, J.;Moore, K.& Spaaij,R. eds. Routledge Handbook of Football Studies. London : Routledge 

    Testa. A. (2013). Normalization of the Exception: Issues and Controversies of the Italian Counter-hooliganism Legislation. Sport in Society. 16, (2): 151-166 

    Testa. A. (2012). La corsa di Maometto.Le problematiche dello sport moderno secondo la Shari'a. Lancillotto e Nausica. 

    Testa, A. and Armstrong, G. (2012).The Articulations of the True Believers: Football and Neo-Fascism in the Eternal City., Journal of Mediterranean Studies 21 (1) : 25- 52 

    Testa, A. and Armstrong, G. (2012) . The UltraS: the extreme right in contemporary Italian football. In: Mammone, A., Godin, E. and Jenkins, B. eds. Varieties of Right-Wing Extremism in Contemporary Europe.. Oxford : Routledge Chapter 17 

    Testa, A. (2012) Bare Sovereignty, the football banning order and the Italian football Fan. In: Mastrogiannakis, D. and Dorville, C. eds. Risk Management and Sport Events.. Paris- France : Le Manuscrit 87- 107 

    Testa, A. and Armstrong, G. (2012).'We Are Against Islam!' The Lega Nord and the Islamic Folk Devil, Sage Open 2 (4) 

    Testa, A. (2012). Bare Sovereignty, the football banning order and the Italian football Fan.. In: Mastrogiannakis, D. and Dorville, C. eds. Risk Management and Sport Events.. Paris- France : Le Manuscrit 87- 107 

    Testa, A. (2011). Experiences of Online Learning: An evaluation of first-year Sport Sciences University students’ attitudes towards the use of U-Link, International Education Studies 4,(4) : 13- 21 

    Testa, A. (2011). Bosman Ruling. In: Sports Around The World: History, Culture and Practice. Santa Barbara, CA : ABC-CLIO 

    Testa, A. (2010). Contested meanings: The Italian media and the UltraS, Review of European Studies 2 (1) : 15- 24 

    Testa, A. and Armstrong, G. (2010). Purity and Danger: Policing the Italian Neo-Fascist Football UltraS, Criminal Justice Studies: A Critical Journal of Crime, Law and Society 23 (3) : 219- 237 

    Testa, A. (2009) . The UltraS: an emerging social movement, Review of European Studies 1 (2) : 54- 63 

    Testa, A. and Armstrong, G. (2008). Words and actions: Italian ultras and neo-fascism, Social Identities 14 (4) : 473- 490 

  • Conferences

    Selected keynote speeches

    Global Counter Terror and Serious Organised Crime Summit- London,UK (2021). Opening keynote speech. Title: “From contemplation to political soldier: The far right as global security threat”. 

    Online Security workshop organised by the Institute for National and International Security and Fudan University -China. (May, 2021). Invited talk. Title: “China and Europe: An analysis of differences and point of contacts in tackling the common organised crime and terrorism threats”. 

    European Security and Intelligence: Analysis of the Terrorist Attacks in France and Austria” (2020). Online experts’ workshop organised by the Hybrid Warfare Research Institute (Croatia) and The Institute of National and International Security (INIS). Invited talk. Title : “Researching Extremism, the “Right” way: Some notes”. 

    Research briefing . Headquarters of the Canton Sarajevo Police (Sarajevo-2020). Title: “Policing the Bosnian Football Terraces” . 

    Research briefing. USAID (USA Embassy Sarajevo -2020). Title : “Through the Magnifying Glass: Mapping Extremism in the Bosnian Football Terraces”. 

    Keynote speech: 'The Rise of the Far-Right in Europe'; United Nations Human Rights Council ; Geneva (2019)

    Keynote speech for the Radicalisation Awareness Network (organisation set up by the European Commission as an EU-wide umbrella network of practitioners engaged to prevent and counter radicalisation to violent extremism); Poland (2018). Dr Testa’s presentation contributed to the RAN report:  'Learning from adjacent fields: the relation between extremism and hooliganism' 

    Keynote speech: Masculinity, violence and the Far Right. International Conference ‘Extreme Masculinities’ organised by the University of Vienna and the ZukunftsFonds (The Future Fund of the Republic of Austria subsidises scientific and pedagogical projects which foster tolerance and mutual understanding on the basis of a close examination of the sufferings caused by the Nazi regime on the territory of present-day Austria), Wien, Austria (2017). 

Courses taught on