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Terrorism

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From the Munich Olympics to 9/11 to worldwide bombings and mass shootings, terrorism is by no means a localized or recent phenomenon. Efforts to both catalog and counter terrorism, both in the United States and abroad, have been a key focus of RAND research since the early 1970s.

Report
Implications of the Pandemic for Terrorist Interest in Biological Weapons
Some policymakers and analysts have expressed concern that weaknesses in responses to the COVID-19 pandemic will motivate terrorists to seek biological weapons. While the prospect of the Islamic State and al-Qaeda pursuing biological weapons is not zero, it is unlikely, given the difficulties involved and the availability of simpler alternatives.
May 31, 2022
Report
Map of Online Violent Extremist Rhetoric Can Inform Counter-Efforts
An analysis of White identity terrorism and racially or ethnically motivated violent extremism discourse on social media finds that this content is largely created and fueled by users in the United States. A national strategy to counter these threats is needed.
Jun 7, 2022

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Research Brief
The Role of U.S. Airpower in Defeating ISIS
The United States used airpower in Syria and Iraq to halt ISIS's momentum and help defeat the organization, without committing a large number of ground forces.
Feb 12, 2021
Multimedia
Domestic Terrorism in the U.S.: The Need to Rethink Strategy
An overview of testimony by Brian Michael Jenkins presented before the House Committee on Homeland Security on February 4, 2021.
Feb 10, 2021
Report
Airpower Was Indispensable to Defeating ISIS
Some argue that airpower could have been applied more vigorously in Operation Inherent Resolve to have more quickly defeated ISIS. Airpower was essential, but ground forces led by Iraqi and Syrian partners were needed to destroy the Islamic State as a territorial entity.
Feb 5, 2021
Blog
Unemployment Insurance, Domestic Extremists, Housing Insecurity: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on what the pandemic has revealed about America's unemployment system, why stopping domestic extremism will be difficult, how housing insecurity may affect sleep, and more.
Feb 5, 2021
Testimony
Addressing the Threat of Domestic Violent Extremism
The attack on the Capitol was an unprecedented assault on America’s political system. How might a national commission to review the events of January 6 offer a road to national recovery? And what can be done to address broader threats from violent domestic extremists?
Feb 4, 2021
Commentary
What the Capitol Siege Means for the Future of Security Clearances
Some people who stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6 had or have a national security clearance and thus trusted access to classified information. And some might apply for a security clearance in the future. If they are not identified and prosecuted, then they won't have a criminal record that could be detected in a background check.
Feb 2, 2021
Commentary
How to Root Out Extremism in the U.S. Military
The military has a growing extremism problem because America does. Service members who embrace violent extremism are thankfully few; Americans citizens who do so are sadly far too many. As a nation we need to deal with both.
Feb 1, 2021
Commentary
Domestic Violent Extremists Will Be Harder to Combat Than Homegrown Jihadists
The beliefs driving today's domestic extremists are deeply rooted in American history and society. For this and several other reasons, shutting them down will prove far more difficult than combating homegrown jihadists.
Feb 1, 2021
Blog
Prescription Drug Prices, Transgender Troops, Space Diplomacy: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on America's high prescription drug prices, allowing transgender troops in the military, food insecurity in Black neighborhoods, and more.
Jan 29, 2021
Report
Most Attacks on Western Diplomatic Facilities Culminate in Two Hours or Less
There have been 33 successful seizures of Western diplomatic facilities since 1979. The majority of attacks culminated in two hours or less, and over 90 percent culminated in six hours or less. A review of these attacks can help in developing effective response capabilities.
Jan 25, 2021
Commentary
How Threats Against Lawmakers Could Distort the Political Landscape for Years
The political environment is changing in a way that goes beyond immediate security concerns. The prevalence of threats and violence as a feature of American politics will ripple throughout the political system. Our politics could be distorted by the vicious atmosphere for years.
Jan 25, 2021
Blog
Keeping COVID-19 Vaccines Moving, the Capitol Attack, Media Literacy: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on keeping COVID-19 vaccines moving to save more lives; why we need a national commission to investigate the U.S. Capitol attack; media literacy as a tool to counter “Truth Decay,” and more.
Jan 22, 2021
News Release
Interest in a U.S. Grand Strategy of Restraint May Be Growing, So Advocates Need to Provide More Details
As the Biden Administration takes over, some U.S. policymakers have expressed interest in a new approach to America's role in the world: a realist grand strategy of restraint under which the U.S. would cooperate more with other powers, reduce its forward military presence and end or renegotiate some security commitments.
Jan 22, 2021
Report
A U.S. Grand Strategy of Restraint
Some U.S. policymakers have expressed interest in a realist grand strategy of restraint. Under this approach, the United States would cooperate more with other powers, reduce its forward military presence, and end or renegotiate some security commitments. What are the policy implications of embarking down this path?
Jan 21, 2021
Commentary
Why We Need a January 6 Commission to Investigate the Attack on the Capitol
The history of politically charged violence in and against the United States can be read in the reports of its national commissions. The takeover of the U.S. Capitol on January 6 demands such an inquiry.
Jan 20, 2021
Blog
Political Violence, COVID-19 Vaccine Questions, Mental Health Care: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on why we need to brace for more political violence after the Capitol attack, COVID-19 vaccine questions and answers, how to reform the U.S. mental health system, and more.
Jan 15, 2021
Multimedia
The Likelihood of Violence Following the U.S. Presidential Inauguration
Brian Michael Jenkins, senior adviser to the RAND president, discusses the likelihood of violence that could occur following Inauguration Day in response to election results.
Jan 15, 2021
Commentary
The Battle of Capitol Hill
The deadly mob assault on the U.S. Capitol Building was a predictable possibility. Democracy held, but security failed, spectacularly. We need to be better prepared for future acts of political violence.
Jan 11, 2021
Blog
A Message from Our President, Medical Mistrust, Insulin Prices: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on Wednesday’s siege on the U.S. Capitol, Americans' psychological distress, medical mistrust and COVID-19 vaccines, and more.
Jan 8, 2021
Announcement
Statement by Michael D. Rich on the U.S. Capitol Siege
The audacity of the rioters at the U.S. Capitol and the violence they perpetrated should have no place in the political process, although tragically, and all too often, violence finds its home in the United States.
Jan 7, 2021

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Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Richard H. Donohue

Policy Researcher

Richard (Dic) Donohue is a policy researcher at RAND’s Boston office. His primary areas of research focus on homeland security and law enforcement issues, including training, police-community relations, and recruitment/retention. Donohue has led Homeland Security Operational Analysis Center…
Terry L. Schell

Senior Behavioral Scientist

Terry L. Schell is a senior behavioral scientist at the RAND Corporation. Much of his research has focused on violence and psychological trauma. This includes work documenting posttraumatic stress disorder, among civilian survivors of trauma and military service members; estimating the effects…

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