Date of Award

3-2003

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Department of Systems Engineering and Management

First Advisor

Alfred E. Thal, Jr., PhD

Abstract

The nature of action and reaction that forms the basis for terrorist - government interactions creates a dynamic system. Understanding how this dynamic system behaves in response to key government activities can help the government better control the overall behavior of the system. The system dynamics methodology is one tool that can help the government solve specific behavioral problems within the overall system. This research shows the ability of system dynamics to help develop government policy towards terrorism that can directly affect a terrorist's behavior. It supports a government policy of offensive action instead of defensive reaction. It also identifies the primary variables and parameters of the overall system at an aggregated level. This research effort is the genesis of a future research stream capable of helping the government manages their terrorism policy. The last chapter of this study suggests additional steps in this line of research to develop a tool that can help the government control the dynamic system of terrorist-government interactions.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-GEE-ENV-03-11

DTIC Accession Number

ADA413418

Download

Share

COinS