Bio-Psycho-Social of Violence and Terrorism

March 2016 No Comments

Assessing and Anticipating Threats to US Security Interests: A Bio-Psycho-Social Science Approach for Understanding the Emergence of and Mitigating Violence and Terrorism. Author | Editor: Giordano, J. (Georgetown University Medical Center). This white paper represents the work of intra- and extramural subject matter experts (SMEs) from multiple disciplines, convened to provide views and insights to […]

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Maneuver and Engagement in the Narrative Space

January 2016 No Comments

Maneuver and Engagement in the Narrative Space. Author | Editor: Munch, R. (TRADOC G-27 TBOC). The paper leverages and melds the latest thinking of academic and operational subject matter experts in fields of organizational and social dynamics, network analysis, psychology, information operations and narrative development, social media analysis, and doctrine development related to aspects of […]

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Scientific Methods for Countering Extremism (2015 Edition)

September 2015 No Comments

Countering Violent Extremism: Scientific Methods and Strategies (2015 Edition) Author | Editor: Fenstermacher, L. (Air Force Research Laboratory) [Note: 2011 edition available here] Why are we reissuing the paper collection, “Countering Violent Extremism: Scientific Methods and Strategies”? The answer is simple. Five years later, violent extremism is still an issue. In September 2014, President Obama […]

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ISIL’s Intangible Influences and Resolve

September 2015 No Comments

ISIL Influence and Resolve. Author | Editor: Astorino-Coutois, A. & Canna, S. (NSI, Inc). During FY 2014, the SOCCENT Commander requested a short-term effort to understand the psychological, ideological, narrative, emotional, cultural, and inspirational (“intangible”) nature of ISIL. As shown below, the SMA1 team really addressed two related questions: “What makes ISIL attractive?” or how […]

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Israeli-Palestinian Security Conundrum Assessment

June 2015 No Comments

A Geopolitical and Cognitive Assessment of the Israeli-Palestinian Security Conundrum. Author | Editor: Wilkenfeld, J. (). At the request of the U.S. Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority (USSC) the J-39 Strategic-Multilayer Assessment (SMA) Branch undertook a Coordinator’s Mission Review in July 2014 and concluded it in February 2015. This SMA project resulted […]

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Barriers to Civil Order in Palestinian Security Sector

February 2015 No Comments

The Palestinian Security Sector in the West Bank: Current Functions, Actvities, and Internal Barriers to the Provision of Civil Order. Author | Editor: Desjardins, A., Polansky (Pagano), S., Popp, R. & Rieger, T. (NSI, Inc). The origins of the Palestinian security sector can be traced to the 1993 Oslo I Accord, which established divisive security […]

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Israeli-Palestinian West Bank Cross Border Issues

January 2015 No Comments

The Dynamics of Israeli and Palestinian Security Requirements in the West Bank—Cross-border activities, sovereignty and governing legitimacy. Author | Editor: Astorino-Coutois, A., Bragg, B. & Key, K. (NSI, Inc). This report presents insights from an analysis of a conceptual map, or qualitative loop diagram that relates Israeli and PA sovereignty and legitimacy in the West […]

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Subject Matter Expert (SME) Assessment of ISIL

January 2015 No Comments

Multi-Method Assessment of ISIL in Support of SOCCENT: Subject Matter Expert Elicitation Summary Report, July – November 2014. Author | Editor: Canna, S. & Rieger, T. (NSI, Inc). From July through November 2014, NSI conducted a Subject Matter Expert (SME) Elicitation study to gather insights from interviews, panel discussions, seminars, and personal communications with over […]

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Multi-Method Assessment of ISIL in Iraq and Syria

December 2014 No Comments

Multi-Method Assessment of ISIL. Author | Editor: Cabayan, H. (Joint Staff) & Canna, S. (NSI, Inc). SOCCENT has requested a short-term effort to assess the appeal of ISIL, specifically to answer, “What makes ISIL so magnetic, inspirational, and deeply resonant with a specific, but large, portion of the Islamic population allowing it to draw recruitment […]

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Leader Assessment of Bashar al-Assad (Part I)

February 2014 No Comments

A Multi-disciplinary, Multi-method Approach to Leader Assessment at a Distance: The Case of Bashar al-Assad. Author | Editor: Kuznar, L. (NSI, Inc), Suedfeld, P. (University of British Columbia), Spitaletta, J. (Johns Hopkins University/Applied Physics Laboratory) & Morrison, B. (University of British Columbia). This report suggests potential types of actions and messages most likely to influence […]

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