International cooperation frameworks and mechanisms

International Cooperation

The Lessons of International Cooperation in Counterterrorism: Address to RUSI Conference in Transnational Terrorism, a Global Approach" by Anthony Cordesman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies published January 18, 2006.

Cordesman's article clearly addresses experts in the field of counterterrorism, through a developed set of points regarding historical lessons that have been learned with regard to the need for international cooperation in counterterrorism efforts and future suggestions about such communications. The author first points out discrepancies in the definition of terrorism that are dependant upon the intent or view of the individual or organization, then moves on to discuss seven points about international communication on counter terrorism. The first seems logical enough, that there is a need for international cooperation. Lesson number two being that there is a need for international organizations that cross cultural, ethnic, regional and religious lines in cooperation and that such organizations must be empowered to act and unilateral on action, rather than fractured by factional communication.. Lesson three stresses the strengths and potential weaknesses of regional cooperation, the greatest strength being the ability to act and the greatest potential weakness being that the two groups are drawn together only on paper, mostly for political reasons and not in a real active fashion that creates change. Lesson four stresses the need for a balance between secrecy and transparency in all counterterrorism agencies, stressing the need to keep information secure when it needs to be but not utilize security as an excuse to cover incompetence. Lesson five stresses the need for cooperation on a very basic level, between those who hold positions in counterterrorism that are roughly lateral to positions in other nations. Cordesman stresses that these cooperation's need not be formal but can be, but should be strong regardless. Lesson six stresses that great care must be taken to focus action only on those who are actual known terrorists and not unilaterally on innocents, a strategy that runs the risk of further feeding the extremist view and breeding future terrorists and lastly lesson seven stresses that the issues that feed terrorism, especially in the Middle East and West conflicts must be addressed on a level that furthers a future with less terrorism, as no matter how much we fight it success will never be felt unless the underlying issues causing it are moving toward resolution.

The problem of international cooperation in counterterrorism is clearly defined though this work is an address offered to a Royal United Service Institute conference on transitional terrorism, so it reads much like a speech. The problem of unilateral communication is demonstrated with zest, inclusive is a sense that the author has serious concerns about the historical practices of his own and other nations with regard to international communication and cooperation in counterterrorist activities. The author frequently stresses historical failings, including those he relates to international opinion polls of 'international actions" such as those taken by the U.S. In the invasion of Iraq. The purposes of the article are clearly stated as the author stresses that his work should be seen as a brief though not simplistic summary of the problems and solutions associated with the problem.

As this is not a traditional research-based work the article does not contain a review of literature, though it does pull from appropriate literature, mainly international opinion polls to stress points made by the author. The literature it does use is timely and very current and discusses real application of the validity of the argument that past practices of cooperation and lack there of have resulted in negative overall opinions of those entities in the international community, with regard to past actions.

This work also outlines no particular methodology, as it is a synopsis of an expert opinion on the state of cooperation, at both a micro and macro level. Where research is stated it is in the form of a synopsis of post data from opinion polls. There is no true hypothesis being tested.