Networks and Netwars The Future of Terror, Crime, and Militancy

• Main Author: Arquilla, John (auth)
• Other Authors: Ronfeldt, David (auth)
• Format: Electronic Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: RAND Corporation 2001
• Subjects: Terrorism, armed struggle; Political Science
• Online Access: DOAB: download the publication; DOAB: description of the publication

Netwar-like cyberwar-describes a new spectrum of conflict that is emerging in the wake of the information revolution. Netwar includes conflicts waged, on the one hand, by terrorists, criminals, gangs, and ethnic extremists; and by civil-society activists (such as cyber activists or WTO protestors) on the other. What distinguishes netwar is the networked organizational structure of its practitioners-with many groups actually being leaderless-and their quickness in coming together in swarming attacks. To confront this new type of conflict, it is crucial for governments, military, and law enforcement to begin networking themselves.