COUNTERACTING TERROR: GROUP DESIGN AND RESPONSE MODALITIES

Abstract

Through the use of qualitative analysis, this study seeks to analyze the manner by which the United States government categorizes, classifies and responds to terrorist groups. Little or no research has been performed appraising the methods governments utilize in classifying or categorizing terrorist groups, or the modality governments might employ when responding to incidents of transnational terrorism. The underlying assumption is that the current systems employed by the United States government both fail to comprehensively categorize terrorist groups, or sufficiently address the motivating factors behind transnational terrorism. These systems are inadequate for classifying terrorist groups or responding to incidents of transnational terrorism; therefore, new models will be presented. The purpose of this chapter is to analyze the manner by which the United States government categorizes terrorist groups, and has responded to previous incidents of transnational terrorism. As will be presented and discussed, little or no prior research has evaluated the methodologies used by governmental entities when classifying or categorizing terrorist organizations, or the manner by which governments respond to incidents of transnational terrorism. Through content and conceptual analysis of models currently employed by the United States government, inadequacies will be revealed concerning governmental identification, Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism: Criminological Perspectives Sociology of Crime, Law and Deviance, Volume 5,91-110 ISSN:1521-6136/doi:10.1016/S1521-6136(03)05007-3