NGOs in the crosshairs: Non-governmental organizations and the terrorist threat.

Abstract

This study addresses the impact of terrorism and political violence on non-governmental organizations. The research is divided into two main sections. The first utilizes secondary source material to evaluate the nature and extent of the threat of terrorism and political violence to non-governmental organizations. Acts of political violence and terrorism will be categorized into acts upon non-governmental organizations and religious groups acting as non-governmental organizations depending on the nature and target of the attacks. The general threat characteristics can then be evaluated. The main source materials used are the Rand/Saint Andrews Terrorism Database as well as the Rand/MIPT Terrorism Database, both of which have been compiled primarily from news publications worldwide. Also used as secondary sources are the U.S. government reports Political Violence Against Americans, Significant Incidents of Political Violence Against Americans, and the Patterns of Global Terrorism 2000--2002 . A theoretical framework as to the nature of the threat of terrorism and political violence on non-governmental organizations will then be presented.

The second portion of this study will utilize the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints as a case study to determine how it evaluates and deals with the threats of political violence and terrorism against its organization, agents, and property worldwide. Further, the theoretical framework developed in the previous section will be applied to the case and the framework reinforced. The appropriateness of the framework in an in-depth scenario can be explored. Policy recommendations based on the framework and case will then be made.