Terrorist training: Onsite or via the Internet?

This paper investigates an agency model of a terrorist organization in which the training and motivation of recruits can occur onsite, in physical training camps, or at arm’s length through the Internet. In so doing, we develop measures of the effectiveness and efficacy of these recruit training met...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European Journal of Political Economy 2020-06, Vol.63, p.101878, Article 101878
Main Authors: Siqueira, Kevin, Arce, Daniel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Camps
Counterterrorism
Efficacy
Gun violence
Incentives
Internet
Mass murders
Motivation
Onsite
Political economy
Recruits
Suicide bombings
Terrorism
Terrorist organizations
Training
Training and motivation
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Summary:This paper investigates an agency model of a terrorist organization in which the training and motivation of recruits can occur onsite, in physical training camps, or at arm’s length through the Internet. In so doing, we develop measures of the effectiveness and efficacy of these recruit training methods. A dividing line for choosing between the two is characterized in terms of the degree to which onsite training augments an operative’s probability of mission success. In comparing our results to data on terror-tactic lethality, one implication is that terrorist organizations are likely to consider Internet training as sufficient for any tactic that is less complex and less lethal than vehicular assaults, and will require onsite motivation and training for more complex missions such as multiple-operative mass shootings and suicide bombings. •Agency model of terrorist organization that trains and motivates recruits.•Organization can choose to train onsite or offsite via the Internet.•Choice based on cost-benefit analysis.•Apply implications of model to data on terrorist-tactic lethality.•Provide suggestions for counterterror policy.
ISSN:0176-2680
1873-5703
DOI:10.1016/j.ejpoleco.2020.101878