The Political Economy of Transnational Terrorism

Bibliographic Data

ID6283685
AuthorsB Peter Rosendorff (0000-0002-6775-8911, University of Southern California), Tod Sandler (0000-0001-9077-5915, University of Southern California), Todd Sandler (University of Southern California)
Year2005
Volume49
Issue2
Pages171-182
Publication date2005-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Conflict Resolution (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0022-0027 • E-ISSN: 1552-8766
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/0022002704272834
OpenAlexW1948688685
LanguageEN
Citations received18
References cited16

Clearly, the events of September 11, 2001 (henceforth 9/11), heightened the public's awareness of the threat posed by modern-day terrorism. For global society, 9/11 was a defining moment for a number of reasons. First, the sheer magnitude of the attack and the resulting carnage of almost 3,000 killed were unprecedented in terms of terrorist attacks. Second, the associated financial losses and repercussions of $80 to $90 billion was far greater than those associated with the most catastrophic natural disaster to date (Kunreuther and Michel-Kerjan 2004). Financial consequences were particularly heavy on the airline industry, tourism, and insurance. Third, 9/11 aptly underscored the vulnerabilities of modern society to terrorist attacks that could use an everyday object to cause havoc and terror. Fourth, 9/11 created an ongoing financial commitment to homeland security that devours scarce resources. Fifth, 9/11 set the bar for future attacks as terrorists try to outdo the magnitude of past attacks to capture and maintain media attention. In their quest to eventually top 9/11, terrorists will resort to larger conventional attacks or even weapons of mass destruction, most likely chemical or radiological in nature. Another defining moment came on March 11, 2004 (henceforth 3/11), with the attacks on the Madrid commuter trains and stations where 191 died and more than 1,200 were injured. The events of 3/11 made clear that such callous and deadly attacks could occur virtually anywhere. Nations that support a prime-target nation, such as the United States, may itself become a venue for terrorism. The Madrid attacks also showed that a well-timed terrorist incident could have significant political ramifications. In addition, 3/11 demonstrated that terrorists will respond to security upgrades

Criminology · Homeland · Homeland security · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Sociology · Terrorism · Tourism · Crime, Illicit Activities, and Governance · Law · Political Conflict and Governance · Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political Violence

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