How international businesses cope with terrorism

Susanna W. Purnell

Expert InsightsPublished 1986

This paper, which was originally presented to the Kansas City International Trade Club, November 20, 1986, addresses four issues: (1) why and where terrorists attack businesses, (2) the strategies that American firms have used to counter threats of terrorism, (3) the costs to companies of both terrorist attacks and the responses, and (4) the hostage experience. The author describes four general strategies that companies have developed for dealing with terrorist threats, including the institution of security programs, the promotion of management styles and personnel policies tailored to the risks, dealing with the terrorists themselves, and reducing or hedging the assets at risk. The author points out that most terrorism is episodic, and U.S. corporations have maintained their overseas operations long after the terrorist groups threatening them have gone.

Document Details

  • Copyright: RAND Corporation
  • Availability: Web Only
  • Year: 1986
  • Pages: 16
  • Document Number: P-7294

Citation

Chicago Manual of Style

Purnell, Susanna W., How international businesses cope with terrorism. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 1986. https://www.rand.org/pubs/papers/P7294.html.
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