The Terrorist’s Dilemma

Since 9/11, terrorism experts have sought to understand the way militant organizations work, often through the personalities of the men who lead them, but what about the groups themselves?  How do these groups control their dispersed members?  And do they use tools to monitor their operatives and enforce discipline that can be exploited by international governments? 

In his new book, The Terrorist’s Dilemma: Managing Violent Covert Organizations, Dr. Jacob Shapiro uses an agency theory,  a broad range of historical case studies, and the terrorists’ own documents to answer these questions.  The first book to systematically examine the structural differences between terrorist groups, The Terrorist’s Dilemma discusses the core managerial challenges these groups face, and illustrates how the organizations are affected by their political goals and operational environments.  Shapiro provides a historically-informed explanation for why some groups have little hierarchy, while others resemble miniature firms.  Looking at groups in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America, he highlights how consistent and widespread the terrorist’s dilemma — balancing the desire to maintain control with the need for secrecy — has been since the 1880s. 

The New America Foundation’s National Security Studies Program hosted a conversation about how Dr. Shapiro’s findings inform our current understanding of al-Qaeda, as it increasingly operates as a network of powerful regional affiliates.

Participants