module specification

This module deals with the overall aspect of terrorist financing, both on a regional and international perspective.

The module examines terrorist groups and how they obtain and use finances, both for operational attacks and for long term existential objectives of the group or organisation.
It further examines the international counter measures and analyses how successful or otherwise these have been to date.
It considers the modes of operation  of terrorist fund raising from both an operational, practitioner perspective and from the long term strategic international perspective.

Following an introductory session the module will address the following topics:

• the international terrorist threat since 9/11
• terrorist groups and organisations and their finances
• terrorism in differing global regions and variations on finances
• and the attempts to establish financial compliance systems and compliance and regulatory regimes, transitioning from financial crime to encompass terrorist financing,
• global issues of financing of terrorism,
• modus operandi of terrorist financing
• some underestimated or ’intelligence blind spot’ in international efforts against terrorist financing
• vulnerabilities of the private financial sector and financial institutions,
• an overview of  international and national counter measures deployed against to terrorist financing and assessing their effectiveness.

Teaching sessions consist of a series of core module document, divided into Topics, which are released to students by inform in phases. Within the core document of the module, there are Directed Learning sections, in which students are focussed towards specific issues and topics, and, in so addressing ,are preparing for their end of module assignments Student participate during each Topic in online discussions and exchange ideas and viewpoints. Students are encouraged to explore the political, strategic and tactical complexities of terrorist financing. students draw upon case studies and examine actual operational scenarios.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to demonstrate:

1. An understanding of the inter-related nature of terrorist organisations and illicit fund raising
2. Understand and appreciate the issues relating to financing of terrorism
3. An understanding of the international and national counter measures against terrorist financing since 9/11
4. An ongoing assessment of the successes-or otherwise-  of the international and national counter measures against terrorist financing since 9/11
5. To appreciate and assess international and national counter measures and how they have attempted to utilise proactive financial intelligence

Students to write two essays of 3,000 words each, to be completed at the end of the module. Both are on differing topics of terrorist financing.

Chandler, M and Gunaratn, R (2008) Countering Terrorism  Reaktion Books

Donoghue, LK (2008) The Cost of Counter Terrorism Cambridge University Press

Bruton, B  (2009)" In the quicksand of Somalia"  Foreign Affairs

Giraldo, JK and Trinkunas, HA (eds) (2007) Terrorist financing and State responses Stanford Uni Press

Gurule, J    (2010)  Unfunding Terror-Legal Response to the Financing of Terror  Edward Elgar

Napoleoni, L.  (2003) Terror Inc.-tracing the money behind global terrorism. London: Penguin

Napoleoni, L.  (2005) Insurgent Iraq Constable Books

Ridley, N. (2012) Terrorist Financing; The Failure of  Counter Measures. Cheltnham.UK