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ABOUT ICTS

The threat of terrorism is ever evolving, always changing and therefore must be continually examined. However, the field of terrorism research is static and often fragmented into domestic, international, and academic disciplines. The International Center for Terrorism Studies (ICTS) integrates traditional terrorism research with new and innovative approaches that explore terrorism-adjacent activities (i.e. cybercrime, emerging disruptive technology, money-laundering, cartel violence, etc.) to counter terrorism threats in the 21st century. Our dedicated staff and extensive network of subject-matter experts examine current trends, anticipate future terrorism, and collaborate with researchers as well as practitioners to identify detection, mitigation, and reduction strategies.
 
The mission of the ICTS is to: (1) monitor and study current as well as future tactics, techniques, and procedures that contribute to threats of terrorism; (2) develop counterterrorism response strategies on governmental and non-governmental levels; (3) collaborate with policymakers, academic institutions, business, media, and civic organizations; (4) sponsor research programs on critical issues in counterterrorism and terrorism-adjacent phenomena, and (5) share findings on both the national and international levels.
 
Using multidisciplinary, independent, data-driven research, ICTS forms a channel and educates policymakers, practitioners, and the public on the nature and intensity of the terrorism threat in the 21st century.

RESEARCH THEMES

Ranging from refugees to WMDs, the ICTS program brings stakeholders together to facilitate conversations concerning current and future terrorist trends and terrorism-adjacent predecessors between subject-matter experts, government officials (DHS, DOJ, DOD, Ambassadors, State Department), researchers (universities, FFRDCs, COEs, private research centers, nonprofits), and policymakers (Congress members, Congressional Committees). Data-driven ICTS research projects are especially attuned to challenges in the terrorism and counterterrorism field including data access, quality, use of AI, and proper measurements of terrorist and terrorist-related phenomenon.
 
Our work spans a number of issue areas, including:
 
Advancing Data Standards and Analytics by merging Department of Defense and Academic Research

Hybrid Warfare, Regional Violent Conflicts, and State-Sponsored Terrorism

Counterterrorism Financing and Anti-Money Laundering

Emerging and Disruptive Technologies (AI/Cybersecurity/CBRNEs)

Foreign and Domestic Violent Extremism and Radicalization

LEADERSHIP

Dr. Margaret McWeeney

Dr. Margaret McWeeney

Kevin Harrington

Kevin Harrington

UPCOMING EVENTS

THE HISTORY OF ICTS

International Center for Terrorism Studies (ICTS), a research center established in 1998 by Dr. Yonah Alexander, educates policymakers, practitioners, and the public on the nature and intensity of the terrorism threat in the 21st century. The ICTS and the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies were among the first to publish a profile warning of Usama bin Laden’s al-Qaida Terrorist Network in February 2001. The ICTS has sponsored, co-sponsored, and participated in hundreds of articles, reports, seminars, briefings, and conferences around the world. This wide array of products assesses obstacles, examines terrorism through nontraditional lenses, and develops actionable strategies through policy recommendations. Previous ICTS projects include affiliates from the FBI, Department of Justice, Bureau of Counterterrorism Department of State, U.S. National Security Council, UN, and NATO. Over the past 27 years, our consortium of multidisciplinary researchers and practitioners has exhibited a deep understanding of violent nonstate actors through fieldwork and open-source data collection, analysis, and visualization.

 

In Memoriam 
Professor Yonah Alexander

ICTS Founder

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EVENT ARCHIVE