Social Network Analysis of Terrorist Networks: Can it Add Value?

Mark Lauchs, Robyn Keast & Vy Le

Abstract
The study of terrorism includes the study of terror networks. The key method of studying
networks is Social Network Analysis (SNA). This article aims to determine whether SNA
can add value to the study of terror networks. We examine the existing research into terror
networks including those that use SNA to reveal the nature of those networks. One of the
most constructive approaches is the study of resilience of terrorist groups. We conclude that
the use of SNA to study resilience will make the best contribution to ongoing research into
terrorist networks and provides a good focus for both theory and practice of counterterrorism.

Keywords: Terrorism, Terror Networks, Social Network Analysis, Resilience