Citation

Kennedy J, Weimann G. Terrorism Polit. Violence 2011; 23(2): 201-212.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/09546553.2010.521087

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The current age of technology, mass communication, and globalization makes networks analysis an especially useful tool for understanding cell-based terrorism. Some concepts from traditional networks analysis may be especially relevant. The Strength of Weak Ties hypothesis (SWT) is particularly promising and will be used here to demonstrate the usability of traditional networks analysis for studying modern terrorism. The findings suggest that the strength of weak terrorist ties may improve Al Qaeda's operational capabilities despite the group's decentralization following the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan beginning in 2001.

Language: en

Keywords

Al Qaeda; Facebook; Internet; social networks; terrorism; terrorist communication; weak ties