Forecasting Terrorism

Catalog description

This course examines the theoretical underpinnings of the phenomenon of terrorism, actual and planned cases of chemical and biological weapons use, and the modern threat of improvised weapons of mass destruction. The course surveys traditional and newer methods of forecasting terrorism: intuition-based, profiling, conflict vulnerability analysis, and prognosis (early warning), etc. The course concludes by looking at the significant post-9/11 efforts at hardening facilities, increasing security, and monitoring terrorist-WMD activity. However, the threat is still substantial as religious-based extremists are still wholly intent on acquiring WMDs.