IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/taf/cdanxx/v32y2016i2p177-191.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Decapitation, disruption, and unintended consequences in counterterrorism: lessons from Islamist terror networks in Spain

Author

Listed:
  • Steven T. Zech

Abstract

This study examines the unintended consequences of decapitation strategies. Two Islamist terror networks in Spain have been used to critically evaluate theories of leadership removal guided by large-N cross-sectional research. Arguably, current models neglect to include relational variables that constitute the foundation for policies of network disruption. Spanish terror networks are mapped out over a 10-year period (1995--2004) to demonstrate the importance of network variables. Policies meant to disrupt militant networks can generate unintended consequences, as was the case with Spain’s Operation Dátil following the 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon in the United States. The Madrid train bombing network developed in the vacant political space following the counterterrorism operation that targeted radical Islamists in Spain.

Suggested Citation

  • Steven T. Zech, 2016. "Decapitation, disruption, and unintended consequences in counterterrorism: lessons from Islamist terror networks in Spain," Defense & Security Analysis, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(2), pages 177-191, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:cdanxx:v:32:y:2016:i:2:p:177-191
    DOI: 10.1080/14751798.2016.1160489
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1080/14751798.2016.1160489
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1080/14751798.2016.1160489?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:taf:cdanxx:v:32:y:2016:i:2:p:177-191. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Chris Longhurst (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.tandfonline.com/CDAN20 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.