Counter-Terrorism

Since September 11, 2001 “terrorism and counter-terrorism have become central topics of research across a multitude of disciplines, including the social sciences and sociology.”(1) However, within the “broad multidisciplinary field of terrorism studies, the dimensions of counter-terrorism have generally been much less addressed than the behaviors associated with terrorist groups and individuals.”(2)

Counter-Terrorism at local level

“The policing of terrorism within many nations does not only involve federal or national agencies as well as international practices and organization of law enforcement, it also includes, in varying degrees, local police institutions. In the United States, in particular, the policing of terrorism primarily involves federal law enforcement agencies, specifically the Justice Department’s Federal Bureau of Investigation, which is the lead-agency in counterterrorism, as well as agencies in the Department of Homeland Security, but also local agencies at the state, county, and municipal levels of government.”(3)

The “most discussed theme among police professionals addressing counterterrorism among local law enforcement is the need to establish and/or expand effective systems of cooperation and inter-agency communication. It is emphasized that police agencies should transcend their traditionally carefully guarded jurisdictional borders and overcome any existing inter-agency rivalries.” (4)

Notes

1. Deflem, Mathieu. 2010. “Police and Counter-Terrorism: A Sociological Theory of International Cooperation.” Pp. 163-172 in Emerging Transnational (In)security Governance: A Statist-Transnationalist Approach, edited by Ersel Aydinli. London: Routledge.
2. Id.
3. Deflem, Mathieu. 2011. “Policing the Modern City: Local Counterterrorism in the United States.” Pp. 261-267 in Counter Terrorism in Diverse Communities, edited by Siddik Ekici. Amsterdam: IOS Press.
4. Id.