Abstract
This paper will briefly examine how Al Qaeda evolved from an insurgency assistance group to a terrorist network of sophistication and global reach. It argues that Al Qaeda filled the needs of Islamist insurgencies and then developed into a complex system of networks by co-opting other groups, hijacking their agendas and transforming their ideologies during the late 1990s to the present. Al Qaeda thus has global and local aspects. Locally-oriented “associate” organizations may have somewhat variant structures and will vary in their goals, targets, and ideology. In some ways, these groups are more vulnerable to discovery by local authorities and disruption. They tend to lack the training, professionalism, education and capacity to ensure strict security measures and discipline within their own ranks. They lack resources such as weaponry and human social capital, such as experience or specific kinds of knowledge that Al Qaeda has been able to provide. Because they are only loosely coupled to the parent organization, both parent and “child” network receive “force multiplier” benefits while minimizing risks and costs.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arquilla J, Ronfeldt D (2001) Networks and netwars: The future of terror, crime, and militancy. Santa Monica, CA: Rand Corporation.
Bergen P (2001) Holy War, Inc. Inside the secret world of Osama Bin Laden. Free Press, New York
Byman DL, Chalk P, Bruce H, William R, David B (2001) Trends in outside support for insurgent movements. Washington, D.C. : Rand.
Carr C (2003) The lessons of terror: A history of warfare against civilians. Revised edition. Random House, New York
Gunaratna R (2002) Inside Al Qaeda: Global network of terror. Columbia University Press, New York
Grannovetter M (1978) The strength of weak ties
Hefner R (1999) Religion: Evolving pluralism. In Indonesia Beyond Suharto: Polity, Economy, Society, Transition. Asia Society. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharp. pp. 205–236
International Crisis Group (2002) Indonesia Backgrounder: How the Jemaah Islamiyya Terrorist Network Operates. Asia pp. 43
Metz S (1993) The future of insurgency report. Strategic Studies Institute, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, PA 17013-5050. Available at http://www.carlisle.army.mil/ssi/pubs/1993/insurg/insurg.pdf
Milgram S (1967) The small world problem. Psychology Today, 2:60–67
Wright L (2002) Profiles: The man behind bin laden. The New Yorker. http://www.newyorker.com/printable/?fact/020916fa_fact2
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Goolsby, R. Combating terrorist networks: An evolutionary approach. Comput Math Organiz Theor 12, 7–20 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10588-006-7081-0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10588-006-7081-0