Terrorist fund raising through criminal activities
| Pages | 303-308 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/13685200610681823 |
| Published date | 01 July 2006 |
| Date | 01 July 2006 |
| Author | Patrick Hardouin,Reiner Weichhardt |
| Subject Matter | Accounting & finance |
Terrorist fund raising through
criminal activities
Patrick Hardouin
Political Affairs & Security Policy Division, NATO HQ, Brussels, Belgium, and
Reiner Weichhardt
Defence and Security Economics Directorate,
Political Affairs & Security Policy Division, NATO HQ, Brussels, Belgium
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe how terrorist funds are raised through criminal
activities and NATO’s role in the international fight against terrorism.
Design/methodology/approach – The paper outlines the more general context of NATO’s overall
role in the international fight against terrorism, the link between terrorist financing and organised
crime and issues involved in confronting terrorism through the rule of law and democracy.
Findings – Deficiencies in democratic development, a weak state, a lack of civil society and the
absence of sound economic institutions can be fertile bases for terrorist and criminal organisations.
Even if terrorists can flourish in developed societies (and organised crime as well) it is a fact that the
rule of law is a major obstacle to the development of terrorist activities.
Originality/value – The paper offers the opinion that sound democratic institutions remain the best
answer to terror.
Keywords Terrorism, Crimes,Democracy
Paper type Research paper
The topic of how terrorist funds are raised through criminal activities is one in
which NATO has a keen interest, as the organisation is operationally involved in
various countries and regions of the world where terrorism and criminality are
issues of great concern. Before coming to this specific theme, let me put it briefly
into the more general context of NATO’s overall role in the international fight
against terrorism.
NATO’s ro
ˆle in the international fight against terrorism
Leaders on both sides of the Atlantic agree that a successful international effort to
confront terrorism requires a multi-faceted strategy that draws on strengths and
unique assets of many international organisations. No simple approach and no single
institution or channel of international cooperation can be expected to suffice.
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/1368-5201.htm
The Cambridge 23rd International Symposium on Economic Crime – “The business of crime: the
enterprise of crime and terror – the implications for good business” Jesus College, University of
Cambridge, 6 September 2005.
The assessment expressed in this paper reflect the views of the authors and do not
necessarily represent official opinion of NATO or NATO countries. The report is drawing on
respective work that has been done in the NATO Economic Committee as well as a wide range of
materials made available by national administrations and international organisations as well as
research institutions.
The enterprise of
crime and terror
303
Journal of Money Laundering Control
Vol. 9 No. 3, 2006
pp. 303-308
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
1368-5201
DOI 10.1108/13685200610681823
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