Asking the Right Questions: A Framework for Assessing Counterterrorism Actions
Abstract
Since the attacks on September 11, 2001, the United States has dedicated an extraordinary amount of time, money, and effort to countering terrorism, using a variety of approaches and tools. However, it has devoted comparatively little effort to developing rigorous and useful assessment frameworks to help policymakers and practitioners understand how effective these counterterrorism (CT) actions have been. To address this shortfall, in this paper we first identify and characterize todays prevailing theories of terrorism and their associated CT actions. For each theory, we then create an assessment framework--consisting of specific questions that need to be answered in order to gauge the success or failure of CT actions, and indicators that could be used to answer those questions. These assessment frameworks--which rigorously link policy to practice--should enable CT practitioners to provide policymakers and commanders direct and actionable feedback on whether the approaches they have chosen to countering terrorist groups are having the impacts they expect and desire.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 2016
- Accession Number
- AD1003585
Entities
People
- Emily Warner
- Jonathan Schroden
- William Rosenau
Organizations
- CNA ANALYSIS AND SOLUTIONS ALEXANDRIA VA