Skip to main content

Simulating Terrorist Cells: Experiments and Mathematical Theory

  • Chapter
Mathematical Methods in Counterterrorism
  • 1084 Accesses

Abstract

How well do mathematical models of terrorist cells apply to the reallife struggle against terrorism? Certainly, mathematical models have been useful in the past for military planning and predicting the behavior of U.S. adversaries, but how well do mathematical projections of terrorist behavior actually hold up when tested on living people and real situations? This paper first presents a mathematical model of terrorist cells and their functionality, and then discusses the procedure and results of an experiment conducted to test this model’s theoretical projections by comparing them with experimental results, thus confronting the question of theory versus reality.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Davey, B. A., Priestley, H. A.: Introduction to Lattices and Order, Second Edition. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (2002)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  2. Farley, J. D.: Breaking Al Qaeda Cells: A Mathematical Analysis of Counterterrorism Operations (A Guide for Risk Assessment and Decision Making). Studies in Conflict and Terrorism. 26, 399–411 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lauren McGough .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2009 Springer-Verlag/Wien

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

McGough, L. (2009). Simulating Terrorist Cells: Experiments and Mathematical Theory. In: Memon, N., David Farley, J., Hicks, D.L., Rosenorn, T. (eds) Mathematical Methods in Counterterrorism. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-211-09442-6_18

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-211-09442-6_18

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Vienna

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-211-09441-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-211-09442-6

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics