Targeting top terrorists : understanding leadership removal in counterterrorism strategy / Bryan C. Price.

Author/creator Price, Bryan C. author.
Format Book
PublicationNew York : Columbia University Press, [2019]
Descriptionviii, 274 pages ; 24 cm.
Subjects
Terrorism--Prevention.

SeriesColumbia studies in terrorism and irregular warfare
Columbia studies in terrorism and irregular warfare. ^A1092412
Contents Organizations and leaders -- Leadership in terrorist organizations -- Quantitative analysis of leadership decapitation in terrorist groups -- The effects of leadership decapitation on Hamas.
Summary When President Barack Obama announced the assassination of Osama bin Laden, many Americans hoped the killing of al-Qaida's leader would sound the death knell for the organization. Since 9/11, killing and capturing terrorist leaders has been a central element in U.S. counterterrorism strategy. This practice, known as leadership decapitation, is based on the logic that removing key figures will disrupt the organization and contribute to its ultimate failure. Yet many scholars have argued that targeted killings are ineffective or counterproductive, questioning whether taking out a terror network's leaders causes more problems than it solves. In Targeting Top Terrorists, Bryan C. Price offers a rich, data-driven examination of leadership decapitation tactics, providing theoretical and empirical explanations of the conditions under which they can be successful. Analyzing hundreds of cases of leadership turnover from over two hundred terrorist groups, Price demonstrates that although the tactic may result in short-term negative side effects, the loss of top leaders significantly reduces terror groups' life spans. He explains vital questions such as: What factors make some terrorist groups more vulnerable than others? Is it better to kill or capture terrorist leaders? How does leadership decapitation compare to other counterterrorism options? With compelling evidence based on an original dataset along with an in-depth case study of Hamas, Targeting Top Terrorists contributes to scholarship on terrorism and organizational theory and provides insights for policy makers and practitioners on some of the most pressing debates in the field.
Bibliography noteIncludes bibliographical references and index.
Issued in other formOnline version: Price, Bryan C. Targeting top terrorists. New York : Columbia University Press, [2019] 9780231547727
LCCN 2018031736
ISBN9780231188227 hardcover ; acid-free paper
ISBN0231188226 hardcover ; acid-free paper
ISBN9780231188234 paperback ; acid-free paper
ISBN0231188234 paperback ; acid-free paper
ISBNelectronic book

Availability

Library Location Call Number Status Item Actions
Joyner General Stacks HV6431 .P737 2019 ✔ Available Place Hold