Why do some individuals choose to betray their country, engage in espionage, or commit acts of terrorism? From Kim Philby to Edward Snowden and from agencies to academia, history is full of figures who have willfully jeopardized national security. What compels people to “cross the line”—and can such dangers be detected in time? In Treason, Terrorism, and Betrayal: Why Individuals Cross the Line, William Costanza employs an interdisciplinary lens to explore the psychological, ideological, and situational factors behind acts of betrayal.

This fireside chat will unpack Costanza’s findings under Chatham House Rules, with ample audience Q&A. Attendees may purchase the book directly from the publisher.

Speaker Bios: BILL COSTANZA retired from the Central Intelligence Agency as a Senior Operations officer after 25 years of service. He obtained a doctorate in Liberal Studies (DLS) from Georgetown University in 2012. His doctoral thesis was “A Framework to Understand the Radicalization of Youth Across Cultures. He also has a Masters degree from American University in International Relations. He has served as Assistant Professor in the Department of Forensic and Legal Psychology at Marymount University where he created the intelligence studies concentration in their Masters program. He was also Associate Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University in their Security Studies Program where he created the course Treason, Terrorism and on which his book is based.