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The Crime-Terrorism Nexus

07 Feb 2019 - 13:49
Renske van der Veer
Source: Aaron Tang/Wikipedia
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This report is part of our Strategic Monitor 2018 - 2019, which monitors the international system and assesses risks to Dutch national security. Over the coming weeks, additional research papers associated with this Strategic Monitor will be released. A synthesis report will be published in February 2019.

In this research paper author Renske van der Veer analyzes both the general threat landscape and the international norms, rules and decision-making procedures that impact the nexus between crime and terrorism. There are four factors that contribute to the long-term development of the threat related to the nexus between crime and terrorism:

  • The role of personal connections;
  • The Syrian conflict as a game changer;
  • The criminal nature of ISIS and other jihadist groups fighting in Syria and Iraq, and
  • The access foreign terrorist fighters in Syria and Iraq have to professional training and material.

There are also four developments related to the international norms, rules and decision-making procedures that impact the nexus between crime and terrorism:
 

  • Returnees from Syria and Iraq;
  • Domestic returnees from prisons;
  • Issues regarding prosecution and convictions, and
  • The organization of countermeasures.