Terrorism has been a permanent fixture in human history. It is evident that the beginning of the twenty-first century marks the beginning of a new age of terrorism.  In contrast with older precedents, modern-day terrorism is widespread, institutionalized, technologically advanced,and global in its consequences. Raising the stakes of this challenge is the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.  This alarming and dangerous trend increases the potential for "superterrorism"- biological, chemical, or nuclear violence - as well as the advent of information warfare and cyber-terrorism.  As a member of the academic and research community, the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies has an intellectual obligation, as well as a moral and practical responsibility, to participate in the international effort to arrest the virus of terrorism.  Accordingly, in 1998 the Institute established the International Center for Terrorism Studies to address the extensive issues surrounding the ever increasing anxiety of modern-day terrorism.

The International Center for Terrorism Studies (ICTS) is directed by Professor Yonah Alexander. Professor Alexander publishes numerous op-eds and articles and makes frequent appearances in international media.

ICTS is seeking interns:Application Information 

PURPOSE AND SCOPE

There exists the need to educate policy-makers, and the public in general, on the nature and intensity of the terrorism threat in the twenty-first century. As a member of the academic and research community, the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies has an intellectual obligation, as well as a moral and practical responsibility, to participate in the international effort to arrest the virus of terrorism. The purpose of the International Center for Terrorism Studies (ICTS), therefore, is four-fold:

• First, to monitor current and future threats of terrorism;

• Second, to develop response strategies on governmental and non-governmental levels;

• Third, to effect continual communication with policy-makers, academic institutions, business, media, and civic organizations; and

• Fourth, to sponsor research programs on critical issues, particularly those relating enabling technologies with policy, and share the findings nationally and internationally.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

Established in 1998, the activities of ICTS are guided by an International Research Council that offers recommendations for study on different aspects of terrorism, both conventional and unconventional. ICTS also serves as a coordinating body for a consortium of universities and think tanks throughout the world, namely the Inter-University Center for Terrorism Studies. ICTS is also affiliated with the Inter-University Center for Legal Studies (Washington, DC).

ACTIVITIES

Seminars, Briefings, & Conferences: ICTS has sponsored, co-sponsored and participated in over 300 events in the U.S., Albania, Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, France, India, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Peru, Sri Lanka, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, and United Kingdom.

Publications: ICTS has published 50 books and 18 reports including: Terrorism and the Law, Yonah Alexander and Edgar H. Brenner, eds.; Super Terrorism: Biological, Chemical, Nuclear, Yonah Alexander and Milton Hoenig, eds.; Usama bin Laden's al-Qaida: Profile of a Terrorist Network, Yonah Alexander and Michael S. Swetnam; ETA: Profile of a Terrorist Group, Yonah Alexander, Michael S. Swetnam, and Hebert M. Levine; Terrorism: U.S. Perspectives, (Vols. 15-35), Yonah Alexander and Donald Musch, eds.; Information Warfare and Cyber-Terrorism: Threats and Responses (4 Vols.), Yonah Alexander and Michael S. Swetnam, eds.; Legal Aspects of Terrorism in the United States (4 Vols.), Yonah Alexander and Edgar H. Brenner, eds.; Combating Terrorism: Strategies in Ten Countries (University of Michigan Press, 2002), Yonah Alexander, ed.; Counterterrorism Strategies: Successes and Failures of Six Nations (Potomac Books, 2006), Yonah Alexander, ed.; Evolution of U.S. Counterterrorism Policy: A Documentary Collection (2 Vols.) (Praeger, 2008), Yonah Alexander and Michael Kraft; Turkey: Terrorism, Civil Rights, and the European Union (Routledge, 2008), Yonah Alexander, Edgar H. Brenner, and Serhat T. Krause; The New Iranian Leadership: Terrorism, Nuclear Ambition, and the Middle East Conflict (Praeger, 2008), Yonah Alexander and Milton Hoenig; and Terrorism on the High Seas: From Piracy to Strategic Challenge (Praeger, 2009), Yonah Alexander and Tyler B. Richardson.

Media Outreach: ICTS activities were covered extensively by television, radio and press in over 60 countries.