Using Social and Economic Development to Inhibit a Resurgence of Terrorism

This publication was supported by RAND using its own funds. RAND is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis. RAND ® is a registered trademark. RAND's publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of its research sponsors. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by any electronic or mechanical means (including photocopying, recording, or information storage and retrieval) without permission in writing from RAND. Terrorism and development : using social and economic development to inhibit a resurgence of terrorism / Kim Cragin, Peter Chalk. p. cm. " MR-1630. " Includes bibliographical references. Contents: Interpreting the problem—Northern Ireland—Mindanao—West Bank and Gaza Strip—Policy implications. PREFACE This report examines social and economic development policies enacted by three countries—Israel, the Philippines, and the United Kingdom—to inhibit a resurgence of terrorist violence within their territorial jurisdictions. The analysis focuses on development initiatives that have been incorporated in wider peace and conflict resolution efforts in an attempt to mitigate local perceptions of past wrongdoings in communities that support terrorist groups. The research was designed to inform the U.S. governmental decisionmak-ing community of the benefits and possible pitfalls of emphasizing a specific social and economic dimension in strategies to counter the problem of terrorism. In the months immediately following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, RAND undertook several research projects related to counterterrorism and homeland security topics as elements of its continuing program of self-sponsored research.