“We will direct every resource at our command to win the war against terrorists, every means of
diplomacy, every tool of intelligence, every instrument of law enforcement, every financial influence.
We will starve the terrorists of funding, turn them against each other, rout them out of their safe
hiding places, and bring them to justice” (Cited in Biersteker and Eckert 2008: 1).
President George W. Bush, September 24, 2001
In the immediate aftermath of the attacks in the United States on 11 September 2001 President W.
Bush declared America’s “War on Terrorism” in which he assured to defeat terrorist movements
and their methods of funding that could be used to support the acts of global terrorist (Biersteker
and Eckert 2008; 1). The examination of broader terrorism studies literature shows “financial and
material resources are correctly perceived as the lifeblood of terrorist operations, and governments
have determined that fighting the financial infrastructure of terrorist organizations is the key to
their defeat” (Grialdo and Trinkunas 2007; 1). Since the attacks of 9/11 the US has designed a strong
strategy to fight terrorist groups and their financing. International and national measures have been
carried out such as the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism,
the enforcement of international sanctions, and the expansion of law enforcement to target
terrorism financing and disrupt terrorist operation (Sheppard 2002). However, the spectrum of
terrorist funding is broad. In particular, the increasing reliance on criminal activities by terrorist since
the end of the Cold War and the subsequent decline of state sponsorship, such as the rising pressure
of law enforcement, network structures became an essential source to safeguard the existence
of many terrorist and criminal groups. The development of the so- called “crime- terror” nexus, in
which two traditionally autonomous groups started to expose various operational and structural
parallels, implicated a key income source for terrorists and has brought sheer difficulty to develop
successful strategies to freeze the terrorist monetary trail. In the following, this essay examines the
involvement of terrorist groups in criminal activities as a source of funding and whether or not it is a
sustainable and profitable source for terrorist funding. Moreover, we try to evaluate to what extent
the so- called “terror-crime nexus” poses a threat to global security.
Table of Contents
1. Introductory chapter
2. Section One
3. Section two
Objectives and Topics
This essay explores the "crime-terror nexus" by examining the involvement of terrorist groups in criminal activities as a funding source. The primary research question addresses whether this nexus is a sustainable and profitable financial strategy for terrorists and to what extent this alliance poses a significant threat to global security.
- Evolution of terrorist financing after the Cold War
- Theoretical foundations of the crime-terror nexus
- Comparative analysis of organizational structures and motives
- Case study: The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) and narco-terrorism
- Case study: Hezbollah and cigarette smuggling in the United States
Excerpt from the Book
Section One
Since the end of the Cold War the nature and financial infrastructures of terrorist organizations have changed. In the past terrorist groups addressed themselves towards the Cold War polarization of political ideologies that had not only inspired but also openly supported them in sponsoring various forms of terrorist operation (Jamieson in Bjorgo 2005; 164). With the end of the Cold War in 1990 and therefore, the dramatically decrease of major sources of state sponsorships, scholars claim terrorist groups were forced to adopt alternative sources of funding (Makarenko 2004; 1). Although, state sponsorship still exists today it has become under increased scrutiny and a greater condemnation. In particular, since the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington DC growing attention elicited on terrorist funding (Makarenko 2004; 1). Today, terrorist function as transnational groups on a global scope in which they gradually depend on their own licit and illicit initiative for their sponsorship (Giraldo and Trinkunas2007; 8). The “new terrorists” have learned to adopt to the new situation and try to take advantage of the post- Cold War environment which is characterized with the acceleration of globalization, state weakness and poor governance such as the increasing development of technology, all resulting in an overall decline in international security (Howard and Traughber 2008; 371).
The decline in the international security has not only created a new generation of terrorists but has also initiated an increase in transnational crime arenas (Howard and Traughber 2008; 372). During the Cold War, the problems of transnational organized crime and terrorism were rather negligible, and often reflected as single occurrences. Today, the dangers of transnational crime has received increasing amounts of attention and is being perceived as a major threat, not just to individuals and society but also to state and regimes security.
Chapter Summaries
Introductory chapter: Outlines the rise of the "crime-terror nexus" following the Cold War and defines the core research hypothesis regarding terrorist funding through illicit activities.
Section One: Analyzes the theoretical shift in terrorist organizations toward decentralized networks and the strategic operational parallels between criminal groups and terrorists.
Section two: Provides empirical evidence through case studies, specifically examining the IMU's involvement in drug trafficking and Hezbollah's cigarette smuggling operations.
Keywords
Terrorism, Organized Crime, Crime-Terror Nexus, Terrorist Financing, Narco-Terrorism, Hezbollah, Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, Globalization, International Security, Criminal Networks, State Sponsorship, Drug Trafficking, Cigarette Smuggling, Non-State Actors, Radicalization
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental subject of this academic paper?
The paper focuses on the "crime-terror nexus," exploring the strategic and operational alliances formed between transnational organized crime groups and terrorist organizations to secure financial resources.
What are the central thematic fields covered?
The key themes include the evolution of terrorist financing, the structural similarities between criminal and terrorist networks, the impact of globalization, and the security threats posed by these hybrid alliances.
What is the primary research objective?
The primary goal is to determine if criminal involvement is a sustainable funding model for terrorists and to evaluate the resulting threat to global security.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The work utilizes a combination of theoretical analysis of existing literature and empirical investigation through two distinct case studies: the IMU in Central Asia and Hezbollah in the United States.
What specific topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body examines the transition from state-sponsored terrorism to self-funding via crime, the shift in organizational structures, and the motivations behind these specific types of illicit partnerships.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Core keywords include the crime-terror nexus, terrorist financing, narco-terrorism, Hezbollah, organizational networks, and international security.
How does the IMU demonstrate the crime-terror nexus?
The IMU represents a hybrid group that pivoted to drug trafficking following the loss of traditional sponsorship, effectively bridging the gap between political insurgency and criminal profit-seeking.
Why is Hezbollah's smuggling activity significant for global security?
Hezbollah's use of legal commodities like cigarettes to generate revenue in the U.S. illustrates how terrorist funding can occur in stable environments, bypassing traditional law enforcement strategies.
Why does the author view the nexus as potentially "positive"?
The author suggests that targeting terrorists through criminal law—rather than complex counter-terrorism definitions—offers a more effective and legally feasible way to track and prosecute their activities.
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- Claudia Müller (Autor:in), 2012, Terrorism and Transnational Organized Crime, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/213643
