Criminal Law

Societal Responses to Terrorist Attacks

Posted on October 19, 2009
Seymour Spilerman and Guy Stecklov (2009). Societal Responses to Terrorist Attacks. Annual Review of Sociology. Vol. 35: 167-189 Terrorist attacks in the United States and in Western Europe have been rare, and public awareness of the terrorist menace has largely been molded by a few horrific events...

Sacred Values: Psychological and Anthropological Perspectives on Fairness, Fundamentalism, and Terrorism

Posted on October 19, 2009
John Thomas Alderdice (2009). Sacred Values: Psychological and Anthropological Perspectives on Fairness, Fundamentalism, and Terrorism. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences Volume 1167 Pages 158 - 173 Enduring, violent, social, and political conflicts have often been interpreted as resulting directly from socioeconomic inequity...

Domestic Terrorism: The Hidden Side of Political Violence

Posted on October 19, 2009
Ignacio Sanchez-Cuenca and Luis de la Calle (2009). Domestic Terrorism: The Hidden Side of Political Violence. Annual Review of Political Science; Volume 12, Page 31 - 49 This article reviews the literature on the onset and dynamics of domestic terrorism, with special emphasis on the interactions between terrorist organizations, the state, and society...

Analysis of terrorist social networks with fractal views

Posted on May 22, 2009
Christopher C. Yang & Marc Sageman (2009). Analysis of terrorist social networks with fractal views. Journal of Information Science 35(3):299-320 Social network visualization has drawn significant attention over recent years. It creates images of social networks that provide investigators with new insights about network structures and helps them to communicate those insights to others...

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Social networking for terrorists

Posted on May 20, 2009
Inderscience publishers press release, 4 May 2009: A new approach to analyzing social networks, reported in the current issue of the International Journal of Services Sciences, could help homeland security find the covert connections between the people behind terrorist attacks...

Mumbai Terrorist Attacks Show Rise of Strategic Terrorist Culture

Posted on January 24, 2009
The Rand Corporation has released a study on the Mumbai terrorist attacks last year. The Mumbai terrorist attacks in India suggest the possibility of an escalating terrorist campaign in South Asia and the rise of a strategic terrorist culture, according to a study issued today by the RAND Corporation...

Terrorism Studies Repository Launched

Posted on January 17, 2009
Hat tip to APA Psychological Science Agenda: On Monday, December 15, the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START), a Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence based at the University of Maryland, launched the Terrorism Studies Syllabi Repository: www...

Dynamics of Asymmetric Conflict: Pathways toward terrorism and genocide, 1(2)

Posted on December 21, 2008
Dynamics of Asymmetric Conflict: Pathways toward terrorism and genocide Volume 1 Issue 2 is now online. Contents include: How democracies fight insurgents and terrorists - Anthony Oberschall The language of violence: distinguishing terrorist from nonterrorist groups by thematic content analysis - Allison G...

Policing 2(4): Special issue - Violent Extremism

Posted on November 30, 2008
The latest issue of the journal Policing 2(4) is a special on Violent Extremism. Contents include: Stephen Vertigans - Introducing Militant Islam: Peoples, Places and Policing Richard Warnes and Greg Hannah - Meeting the Challenge of Extremist and Radicalized Prisoners: The Experiences of the United Kingdom and Spain Paul Gill - Suicide Bomber Pathways among Islamic Militants Minna [...

Deprogramming Jihadists

Posted on November 08, 2008
From the New York Times 7 Nov 2008: The sunset prayer had just ended, and Sheik Ahmad al-Jilani was already calling his class to order. When the latecomers slipped into the front row, Jilani nodded at them briskly. Young men, he began, who can tell me why we do jihad? […] Jilani s students, who range in age [...

The Psychology of “The War on Terror” and Other Terms for Counterterrorism

Posted on October 12, 2008
From the latest edition of Scientific American Mind (Oct 2008), an article co-authored by four authoritative and experienced terrorism researchers: The Psychology of “The War on Terror” and Other Terms for Counterterrorism By Arie W...

The police officer’s terrorist dilemma: trust resilience following fatal errors

Posted on September 28, 2008
Mathew P. White, J. Christopher Cohrs, Anja S. G ritz (2008). The police officer’s terrorist dilemma: trust resilience following fatal errors. European Journal of Social Psychology 38(6):947-964 Suicide attacks have raised the stakes for officers deciding whether or not to shoot a suspect (Police Officer’s Terrorist Dilemma)...

Studies in Conflict & Terrorism 31(9)

Posted on September 28, 2008
Studies in Conflict & Terrorism 31(9) is now online. Contents include: Al Qaeda in the Tribal Areas of Pakistan and Beyond - Rohan Gunaratna; Anders Nielsen The Contradictory Effects of Ideology on Jihadist War-Fighting: The Bosnia Precedent - Jeni Mitchell Islamic Radicalism in East Africa: Is There a Cause for Concern? - Isaac Kfir Ghost Martyrs [...

Psychosocial resilience in the face of a mediated terrorist threat

Posted on September 24, 2008
Pieter A. Maeseele, Gino Verleye, Isabelle Stevens, and Anne Speckhard (2008). Psychosocial resilience in the face of a mediated terrorist threat. Media, War & Conflict. 2008; 1(1): p. 50-69 http://mwc.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/1/1/50 After 9/11, studies concerning psychological and psychiatric effects of terrorism have greatly multiplied...

Does Terrorism Influence Domestic Politics? Coalition Formation and Terrorist Incidents

Posted on September 24, 2008
Indridi H. Indridason (2008). Does Terrorism Influence Domestic Politics? Coalition Formation and Terrorist Incidents. Journal of Peace Research. 2008; 45(2): p. 241-259 Terrorism has been shown to influence domestic politics, for example, by altering the priorities of voters and politicians...

Law enforcement response to terrorism

Posted on September 24, 2008
D Paton and JM Violanti (2008). Law enforcement response to terrorism: the role of the resilient police organization. International Journal of Emergency Mental Health 10(2): 125. Since September 11 the environment of contemporary policing has changed substantially...

The Sakinah Campaign and Internet Counter-Radicalization in Saudi Arabia

Posted on September 24, 2008
The Sakinah Campaign and Internet Counter-Radicalization in Saudi Arabia, published by Combating Terrorism Center, West Point: The prominent role of the internet in propagating and perpetuating violent Islamist ideology is well known… A broad spectrum of individuals turn to the internet to seek spiritual knowledge, search for Islamist perspectives and attempt to participate in the global [...

Great expectations: the use of armed force to combat terrorism

Posted on September 24, 2008
Isabelle Duyvesteyn (2008). Great expectations: the use of armed force to combat terrorism. Small Wars & Insurgencies 19(3):328 - 351 This article looks at the use of armed force in order to stop terrorist activity. There is little agreement among experts about the importance of the use of force in past counter-terrorism campaigns...

Dilettantes, Ideologues, and the Weak: Terrorists Who Don’t Kill

Posted on September 24, 2008
Victor Asal & R. Karl Rethemeyer (2008). Dilettantes, Ideologues, and the Weak: Terrorists Who Don’t Kill. Conflict Management and Peace Science 25(3):244 - 263 Why do some terrorist organizations choose not to or fail to kill? Of the 395 terrorist organizations operating between 1998 and 2005 only 39% had actually killed anyone...

Global Uncertainties: Security for All in a Changing World Programme

Posted on September 24, 2008
Details of opportunities for fellowship funding from the UK Research Councils: The cross-Council programme focuses on the nature and interactions of five global issues: conflict, crime, environmental degradation, poverty and terrorism, and their implications for various concepts and contexts of security and insecurity...

A Look at Terrorist Behavior: How They Prepare, Where They Strike

Posted on September 24, 2008
From National Institute of Justice (via Docuticker): Are [terrorists] much different from conventional criminals, who tend to commit their crimes close to home? Research has shown that traditional criminals are spontaneous, but terrorists seem to go to great lengths preparing for their attacks and may commit other crimes while doing so...

The Psychology of Mass-Mediated Terrorism

Posted on September 24, 2008
Gabriel Weimann (2008). The Psychology of Mass-Mediated Terrorism. American Behavioral Scientist, Vol. 52, No. 1, 69-86 The growing use and manipulation of modern communications by terrorist organizations have led communication and terrorism scholars to reconceptualize modern terrorism within the framework of symbolic communication theory...

Why Do People Become Terrorists? A Prosecutor’s Experiences

Posted on September 24, 2008
In the latest issue of the Journal of International Criminal Justice, Armando Spataro, coordinator of the Antiterrorism Department of the Milan Prosecution Service offers his thoughts on why people turn to terrorism. Here’s the abstract: Undeniably the marginalization suffered by many Islamic emigrants (particularly from North Africa) and the consequent difficulties in fitting in the [...

Studies in Conflict & Terrorism: Volume 31 Issue 8

Posted on September 24, 2008
Studies in Conflict & Terrorism: Volume 31 Issue 8 is now online and includes the following articles: Rethinking Wana : A Game Theoretic Analysis of the Conflict in the Tribal Region of Pakistan - Rabia Aslam Beyond the War on Terror: Into the Fifth Generation of War and Conflict - Donald J...

Violent Islamist Extremism, the Internet, and the Homegrown Terrorist Threat

Posted on September 24, 2008
Report from U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, via Docuticker: During the 110th Congress, under the leadership of Chairman Joseph Lieberman (ID-CT), the Committee continued its investigation into the threat of domestic radicalization and homegrown terrorism inspired by violent Islamist ideology...

Rethinking Counterinsurgency: RAND Counterinsurgency Study

Posted on September 24, 2008
Recent publication from the RAND Corporation: During the period of decolonization in Asia and Africa, the United Kingdom faced more insurgent activity than any other Western power. British government officials and military forces proved proficient at defeating or controlling these rebellions...

Interrogating Terrorist Suspects: Criminal Justice and Control Process in Three Australian Cases

Posted on September 24, 2008
From University of New South Wales Faculty of Law Research Series via Docuticker: This paper examines three cases in which people suspected of terrorist activity were questioned by Australian police and security officers. They are located in the context of fundamental shifts in criminal justice processes and principles...

The Al-Qaeda Media Machine

Posted on September 24, 2008
Via Docuticker: The Al-Qaeda media machine has grown steadily. Qaeda and its jihadist brethren use more than 4,000 web sites to encourage the faithful and threaten their enemies. The Al-Qaeda production company, As-Sahab, released 16 videos during 2005, 58 in 2006, and produced more than 90 in 2007...

How Terrorist Groups End - Implications for Countering al Qa’ida

Posted on September 24, 2008
New from RAND: All terrorist groups eventually end. But how do they end? The evidence since 1968 indicates that most groups have ended because (1) they joined the political process (43 percent) or (2) local police and intelligence agencies arrested or killed key members (40 percent)...

Dynamics of Asymmetric Conflict

Posted on September 24, 2008
Dynamics of Asymmetric Conflict - Pathways toward terrorism and genocide is a new journal launched this year, edited by Clark McCauley. Volume 1 Issue 1 is open access and contains the following articles: Radicalization in the Persian Gulf: Assessing the potential of Islamist militancy in Saudi Arabia and Yemen - Mohammed M...

Terrorism Is A Social Problem, Not A Mental Health Or Criminal Problem

Posted on September 24, 2008
Via Medical News Today, 4 Jul 2008. There is no evidence that young terrorists are mentally ill, a leading authority on terrorism has claimed at the Annual Meeting of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Professor Scott Atran, research director in anthropology at the National Center for Scientific Research in Paris and presidential scholar in sociology at the [...

People Caught Up In Terrorist Attacks More Resilient Than Previously Thought

Posted on September 24, 2008
Via Medical News Today, 3 Jul 2008. People caught up in terrorist attacks or natural disasters are more resilient, both as individuals and in groups, than previously thought. Far from being passive “victims” they can be highly organised survivors, so much so that they should be involved in drafting mental health guidelines to deal with major disasters...

New issue: Terrorism and Political Violence

Posted on September 24, 2008
Terrorism and Political Violence: Volume 20 Issue 3 is now available online . Contents include: The Anarchist and the Partisan Two Types of Terror in the History of Irregular Warfare - Mikkel Thorup The Nefarious Helping Hand: Anti-Corruption Campaigns, Social Service Provision, and Terrorism - Justin Magouirk The PIRA, D-Company, and the Crime-Terror Nexus - Ryan [...

Twenty-five years of violence: the epidemiology of terrorism in South America

Posted on September 24, 2008
AA Baez, MD Sztajnkrycer, R Zane, and E Giraldez (2008). Twenty-five years of violence: the epidemiology of terrorism in South America. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine 23(2): 128-32. Abstract INTRODUCTION: Terrorism is a global public health burden...

Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, Volume 31 Issue 7

Posted on September 24, 2008
The latest issue of Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, Volume 31 Issue 7, is now online. Contents include: Rifling Through the Terrorists’ Arsenal: Exploring Groups’ Weapon Choices and Technology Strategies - Brian A. Jackson; David R...

Special Issue of Perspectives on Terrorism: Under-Investigated Topics in Terrorism Research

Posted on September 24, 2008
From the intro: It is our pleasure to introduce Under-Investigated Topics in Terrorism Research - a special issue of Perspectives on Terrorism.This issue is the first in a series designed to further the discourse surrounding the state of terrorism research...

Muslim American perceptions of terrorism and counter-terrorism

Posted on September 24, 2008
In the June 2008 issue of Criminal Justice Studies, a paper on Muslim American perceptions of terrorism and counter-terrorism. Here s the abstract: This study examines the perceptions of Muslim Americans with regards to anti-terrorist policies including special emphasis on the US-led Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) in the post-9/11 era...

Terrorism: What the Next President Will Face

Posted on September 24, 2008
The latest issue of the Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science (vol 618, no 1) is a special issue on Terrorism: What the Next President Will Face. Contents include: Introduction: Terrorism: The First Portfolio for the Next President - Richard A...

UK Government publishes PREVENT strategy

Posted on September 24, 2008
These documents published 3 June 2008 offer guidance for local authorities, police and partners working to stop the spread of violent extremism: Prevent Strategy: A guide for local partners Preventing Violent Extremism: A strategy for delivery Click here for access to PDF downloads.

Militant jihadists are inspired by night dreams, suggests research

Posted on September 24, 2008
Durham University press release 6 June 2008 The inspirational night dream, or ruya, is a fundamental, inspirational and even strategic part of the militant jihadist movement in the Middle East and elsewhere. This is the conclusion of a study of the reported dreams of many of the best-known al-Qaeda and Taliban leaders carried out by Dr [...

Terrorism and Political Violence 20(2)

Posted on September 24, 2008
Terrorism and Political Violence 20(2) is now online. Articles include: Before the Bombs There Were the Mobs: American Experiences with Terror - David C. Rapoport The Forgotten Terrorists: Lessons from the History of Terrorism - Jeffrey D. Simon The Internet: A Virtual Training Camp? - Anne Stenersen How did Europe’s Global Jihadis Obtain Training for their Militant Causes? [...