Terrorism Studies: Terrorist Modus Operandi

This module explores how the ideologies of various terrorist groups can have an impact on group structure, tactics, strategies and target selection. It examines types of terrorist tactics, looking into the role of ideology and the impact of state response on the evolution of terrorist strategies, before considering the possible future trends in terrorist tactics.

Special attention is paid to:

Download the full Certificate in Terrorism Studies prospectus here

Terrorist organisations exist in many forms that range from highly centralised and disciplined outfits to loosely-connected networks with little association with other members other than a common cause. Hierarchical or centralised structures and network or decentralised structures are two types of terrorist group structures. Traditionally, terrorist organisations have had a hierarchical structure with a centralised leadership. 

Hierarchical Structure - A hierarchical structure consists of a centralised leadership determining the tactics and strategies of the group

Network Structure - Terrorist networks are decentralised and consist of groups and cells acting separately although they are part of the same movement and inspired by the same ideology. 

Decentralised Terrorist Networks

More lately the phenomenon of decentralised terrorist networks has emerged. Although it has now become a prominent feature of the new international terrorism, this is not the first time the term has been coined or indeed that the network form of structure has existed. The term terrorist network has been used to describe the interactions that developed from 1968 between Palestinian groups (such as the PLO and the PFLP) and European terrorists to whom the former offered training facilities. It has also been referred to the cooperation that existed between terrorist groups with a similar ideological outlook in the context of the Cold War. The network form and the concept of ‘leaderless resistance’ have been applied to animal rights extremists and environmental terrorists (such as the Earth Liberation Front).

The module is designed to be studied over four weeks:

Week 1 - Gain an overview of the traditional terrorist structure and the new terrorist network by studying the Irish Republican Army (IRA), and Al Qaeda and the Global Salafi Jihad as case studies respectively.

Week 2 - Understand the impact of ideology on terrorist tactics by studying the Irish Republican Army (IRA), and Al Qaeda and the Global Salafi Jihad as case studies.

Week 3 - Learn about the various tactics that terrorists have used and understand the impact of state responses on terrorist tactics.

 

Study modules individually or as part of the Certificate in Terrorism Studies.

Download the full Certificate in Terrorism Studies prospectus here

Visit Fees page.