Citation

Behm AJ, Palmer MJ. Terrorism 1991; 14(3): 171-193.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1991)

DOI

10.1080/10576109108435874

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Changing global power structures affect the nature and direction of the international terrorist threat. Existing terrorist organizations are adapting to changed circumstances, and new terrorist causes are emerging. At the national level, crime prevention and law enforcement agencies face new challenges, not only in responding to change but also in maximizing their effectiveness against increasingly difficult targets. This article argues that a national approach to combating terrorism must be strategic, comprehending both preventive and response measures. To be successful, the strategy must envisage a crisis management structure that facilitates interagency cooperation and minimizes competition and disputation. The article outlines the principles that encourage interagency coordination, and a number of avenues for putting the principles into practice. Finally, the article suggests that there are two key performance indicators against which coordination arrangements can be assessed: streamlined organizational structures as the test for efficiency, and positive personnel attitudes as the test for effectiveness.

Language: en