Controlling Terrorist Financing
Towards Evidence-Based Mechanisms of Control
Published on 14. March 2014
Book
Hardback
250 pages
978-1-4419-0274-0 (ISBN)
Description
"Controlling Terrorist Financing" critically assesses a key component of counter-terrorism: mechanisms of financial control. Drawing on several studies conducted over the last seven years, including research funded by the US National Institute of Justice, the United Nations Security Council and the World Bank, as well as on his work as a policy advisor to several government agencies and as expert witness in terrorism cases, Nikos Passas argues that current approaches are not only of limited effectiveness but that they even produce counter-productive side effects by undermining security and international cooperation. While the US and the international community preach a 'risk-based' approach, resources and emphasis focus on some areas, while leaving much more vulnerable sectors (eg trade and commerce) unattended. "Controlling Terrorist Financing" shows that actions without firm and shared evidence not only miss their target, but also undercut legitimacy, reduce the chances of joint action with multiple countries and fuel unnecessary animosity. Passas' empirical findings and analytical work pave the ground for evidence-based and conceptually sound counter-terrorism.
This book demonstrates with numerous illustrations and examples that justice, the rule of law and international standards are compatible with and instrumental to a more secure and fair global community.
This book demonstrates with numerous illustrations and examples that justice, the rule of law and international standards are compatible with and instrumental to a more secure and fair global community.
More details
Edition
2012
Language
English
Place of publication
New York, NY
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Research
Illustrations
biography
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 155 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-4419-0274-0 (9781441902740)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Nikos Passas is a Professor at Northeastern University. His law degree is from the Univ. of Athens (LL.B.), his Master's from the University of Paris-Paris II (D.E.A.) and his Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh Faculty of Law. He is a member of the Athens Bar (Greece). He specializes in the study of corruption, regulation of international remittances and trade, terrorism, organized crime and international criminal law. He is fluent in 6 languages and has published more than 100 articles, book chapters, reports and books in 11 languages. His books include the: - Legislative Guide for the Implementation of the UN Convention against Corruption - Legislative Guide for the Implementation of the UN Convention Against Transnational Crime - Migrant Labor Remittances in S. Asia - It's Legal but It Ain't Right: Harmful Social Consequences of Legal Industries - International Crimes - Transnational Crime - The Future of Anomie Theory - Upperworld and Underworld in Cross-Border Crime He frequently serves as expert in court cases relative to money laundering, fraud, terrorism, organized crime and informal fund transfers. Passas also offers training to law enforcement, intelligence and private sector officials on regulatory and financial crime subjects. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of Crime, Law and Social Change, and on the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice and the European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research. He serves on the Board of Directors of the International Society of Criminology. He has been acting as a consultant to law firms, private security companies and various organizations, including the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network of the US Dept. of Treasury (FinCEN), the US Dept of Justice, IMF, the World Bank, the IDB, DFID, Norad, the United Nations, the Commission of the EU, the US National Academy of Sciences and government agencies in many countries.
Content
Introduction. 1. Understandings and Definitions of Terrorist Finance. 2. Methods of Fundraising by Terror Groups (a. Legitimate Sources / b. Illegitimate Sources / c. Terror-Crime for Profit Typology). 3. Methods of Transfer of Funds (a. Informal/Unregulated Channels / b. Formal/Regulated Means). 4. Amounts (a. Operating vs. Operational Costs (Acts vs. Large Groups and Infrastructures) / b. A Typology of Terrorist Groups). 5. Problems with Imperfect Knowledge (a. "Conflict Diamonds" and Al Qaeda: A Theory with no Empirical Support / b. Al Barakaat and Terrorism: Links Never Substantiated / c. Charities and Terrorism: Undercutting Our Own Objectives?). 6. Regulatory Responses (a. Objectives and Risks of CFT / b. Cost-Benefit Analyses? / c. Are Certain Areas Overlooked or Over-Emphasized?). 7. Policy Implications (a. Evidence-Based CFT Policy Construction / b. Identifying the Risks / c. Trade Transparency / d. Legitimacy of CFT).