The complexity of terrorist networks

Abstract

Complexity science affords a number of novel tools for examining terrorism, particularly network analysis and NK-Boolean fitness landscapes. The following paper explores various aspects of terrorist networks which can be illuminated through applications of non-linear dynamical systems modeling to terrorist network structures. Of particular interest are some of the emergent properties of terrorist networks as typified by the 9-11 hijackers network, properties of centrality, hierarchy and distance, as well as ways in which attempts to disrupt the transmission of information through terrorist networks may be expected to produce greater or lesser levels of fitness in those organizations.

Effective strategies for targeted attacks to the network of Cosa Nostra affiliates

“…Understanding the networked structure of criminal organizations is paramount to reduce their impact on society. In the last two decades a growing body of literature based on network science applications [1] has shed light on the characteristics of different criminal enterprises, ranging from terrorist activity [2][3][4] to organized crime [5][6][7][8][9][10][11] and corruption cartels [12][13][14]. The main advantages of a network approach are (i) gaining a better picture of the underlying operational structure of such systems, which is usually hidden and strongly secretive and (ii) understanding the dynamical behavior of these malicious agents in order to build effective strategies to limit their impact.…”