‘Assessing the Dangers of Illicit Networks: Why al-Qaida May Be Less Dangerous Than Many Think’, International Security, 33, no. 2 (2008), pp. 7 – 44. 2. Miles Kahler, ‘Collective Action and Clandestine Networks: The Case of al Qaeda’ in Miles Kahler (Ed.) (2009) Networked Politics: Agency, Power, and Governance (Ithaca, NY, Cornell University Press), pp. 103 – 126. 3. Brad McAllister, ‘Al Qaeda and the Innovative Firm: Demythologizing the Network’, Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, 27, no. 4 (2004), pp. 297 – 319. Week 4: Dark Networks and Their Environment Discussion: How do dark networks navigate the often hostile environments in which they operate? 1. Kimberly Marten, Warlords: Strong-arm Brokers in Weak States (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 2012), Chapter 3. 2. Bruce Hoffman, Inside Terrorism (New York: Columbia University Press, 2006), Chapter 6. Week 5: Terrorism I: Causes of Terrorism Discussion:
What causes terrorism? 1. Tim Krieger & Daniel Meierrieks, ‘What causes terrorism?’ Public Choice, 147, no. 1-2, (2011), pp. 3 – 27. 2. Martha Crenshaw,
‘Theories of Terrorism: Instrumental and Organizational Approaches’, in David Rapoport (ed.), Inside Terrorist Organizations (New York: Columbia University Press, 1988), pp. 13 – 31. Week 6: Terrorism II: Organisational challenges Discussion:
What are the organizational barriers to terrorist groups operating effectively and accomplishing their goals? 1. Eli Berman & David D. Laitind D,
‘Religion, terrorism and public goods: Testing the club model’, Journal of Public Economics, 92, no. 10-11 (2008), pp. 1942 – 1967. 2. Bruce Hoffman & Gordon H. Mccormick, ‘Terrorism, Signaling, and Suicide Attack’, Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 27, no. 4 (2004), pp. 243 – 281. Week 7: Terrorism III: Terrorist groups as Social Networks Discussion: What are the implications of social networks for how terrorist groups operate (effectively or not)? 1. Justin Magouirk, Scott Atran & Marc Sageman, ‘Connecting Terrorist Networks’, Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, 31, no 1 (2008), pp. 1 – 16.
Assess an active terrorist organization. The assessment should include the following 1. Background a. What is terrorism
Where did this group come from?
What aspects of its history are relevant to the assessment?
b. What does the group want? What are its goals?
2. Threat assessment a. What threat does the terrorist group pose (if any)? Who or what does it threaten?
b. What does the group’s structure look like? How does the group operate? How does it attempt to survive and engage in attacks?
3. Theoretical application a. What theoretical tools/readings can we bring to bear to understand the group’s origins, behavior, goals? 4. Implications a. What steps, if any, are being taken to mitigate the threat posed by the group?
b. How do the theoretical tools/readings inform counter-group policy?
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