The Criminal Activities and Operational Roles of Australian Neo-Jihadists: A Network Perspective

• In Event: EXTR7 Crime-terror nexus and terrorist networks

Abstract

Despite the significant global repercussions of terrorism, and many examples of cooperation with criminal organisations, research on its relationship with crime has been focused on group-level analyses. That is, research has yet to focus on how individuals contribute to the crime-terror nexus, and furthermore, how criminal activities of individuals can contribute to terrorist operations. To address this research gap, this study examines the individual criminal activities of Australian Neo-Jihadists via positional social network analysis and their relationship with operational roles. Judicial documents and newspaper articles are analysed to determine the criminal activities and operational roles of network actors. Findings suggest a prominence of criminal activities throughout the wider network, and a significant relationship between market based criminal activities and the facilitation of terrorist operations. It also highlights a significantly negative relationship between violent crime, and the terrorists that commit the final, violent acts. The study concludes with suggestions for future research, emphasising the potential for disrupting terrorist networks by focusing on the new crime-terror nexus and better understanding these relationships through dynamic network analysis.

Authors

• Phillip William Screen, Transcrime - Crime & tech / Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Mi)

• David Bright, Deakin University

• Alberto Aziani, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca