Terrorist Networks and Terrorist Organizations

Question

I have tried to find the diference between " TERRORIST NETWORK" and "TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS" for a school paper, but all I can find when I look it up network and organization meanings but nothing related to terrorism only to TV networks and taco bell organization. Please Help me, I know spanish but english gives me a lot more trouble some times. Maybe if I can get the meaning in spanish it can help me understand it better.

THANKS : )

Answer 1

One of the reasons you are having a hard time differentiating between them is that at times they are synonymous or refer to the same groups.

Contrasting a terrorist network with a terrorist organization nowadays usually means that if the organization is comprised of cells scattered across the globe that have some level of planning or common goal they comprise a network. al-Queda is commonly called a terrorist network since its activities have taken place around the globe. (one man's freedom fighter is another man's terrorist).

What might be labeled a Terrorist Organization (again it depends on your point of view) is a group like Hamas. Rather than being a worldwide network they are mainly located in Palestine and the surrounding area. Since their concerns are mainly with the fate of Palestine (and Israel) they wouldn't be considered a network compared to al-Queda. However, if you were to look at the internal structure of the group you might again wish to refer to them as a network.

Another Terrorist Organization (again, point of view) is the Taliban. Since their main sphere of influence is Afghanistan and its neighbors they would probably be called a Terrorist Organization rather than a network unless you view the group from within. Internally the organization may well be made of of individual smaller groups comprising a network.

So what is a network and what is an organization may depend on what scale you are measuring by. Are the drug cartels a terrorist organization or a network? Either term could probably be applicable depending on your reference point.

So I don't keep stepping on political toes, consider for the moment computers. The internet is considered a worldwide network, but so are the half dozen computers in a small office if they communicate with each other. It depends on scale. Even the idea of small units communicationg with each other to accomplish a common task belongs to both organizations and networks. What organization can function without communication and interaction between it individual members?

Also if you go with the idea of networks being individual cells or units communicating with each other to perform a common task you're going to run into difficulties with the nature of terrorist networks. Often, for the security of the entire organization, the cells act as independently of each other as is practical with only essential communication within the organization.

So I don't get banned for posting some kind of political hate piece, let me say that I sympathisize with your dilemma. There is no organization that cannot be considered a network as some level. And all networks have to have some organization or at least a common goal.

Best of luck.

Don't you mean: Are the drug cartels an organization or a network? - Janice, Aug 19, 2009

Answer 2

Could you compare terrorist networks and terrorist organization in another way

Answer 3

Thank you very much, It is a good answer, It made me understant it better, I am currently working on my Bachelors in criminal justice so it was very helpful.

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