Lone-Actor Terrorism: Database Workshop
There are three key challenges in creating a database of known lone-actor terrorist plots across Europe
Countering Lone-Actor Terrorism Series: No. 3
The aim of the Countering Lone-Actor Terrorism (CLAT) project is to understand lone-actor terrorism in a European context. The project will develop a database of lone-actor cases from across Europe. Its overall objective is to see if it is possible to discern any trends or patterns that could be translated into useful observations or recommendations for practitioners and policy-makers.
The second workshop of the CLAT Consortium, hosted by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue in March 2015, discussed the development of the project database (based on the definition of lone-actor terrorism agreed at the first workshop) and some of the underlying principles that would inform data collection and retention.
The workshop participants identified three practical challenges in operationalising the database: defining and coding ‘ideological aloneness’, ‘operational aloneness’ and ‘mental-health issues’.
About the Authors
Sebastien Feve is Strategic Development Manager at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) where he focuses on supporting the expansion of the Institute’s programmes of work and international partnerships related to counter-extremism and counter-terrorism. Prior to this, Sebastien managed the Policy Planners’ Network on Countering Radicalisation and Polarisation (PPN), an intergovernmental network of eleven government agencies from the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Belgium, Finland and Spain.
Kelsey Bjornsgaard is the Counter-Narrative Associate at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) where she focuses on developing strategic communication to counter extremist narratives. She works primarily with grassroots organisations and her expertise include counter-terrorism and counter-extremism policy in the US and UK, international relations and narrative theory. Kelsey holds an MA in International Conflict Studies from King’s College London and a BA in International Studies from the University of Oklahoma.
About the Project
The Countering Lone-Actor Terrorism (CLAT) project is co-funded by the Prevention of and Fight against Crime Programme of the European Union, and has been undertaken by a RUSI-led consortium. Partnering institutions include Chatham House, the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) and Leiden University, one of the founding organisations of the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism (ICCT) at The Hague.