Page Updated: 20-Oct-2008
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Building terrorism-resistant communities: a NATO Advanced Research Workshop

The role of the community in securing a safer environment in response to terrorist actions was the main focus of a NATO Advanced Research Workshop (ARW) that took place in Washington D.C. on 26-27 September 2008.

During this two-day event, 26 experts from 12 countries explored issues linked to collective community protection in the face of acts of terrorism. The participants have extensive experience in this field and many have authored articles and books, as well provided advice and assistance at the governmental level on issues of security, counter-terrorism, and disaster preparedness. Others have been interviewed on television regarding general security matters and, more specifically, on capacity-building within communities.

This event was co-organised by Mr. Siddik Ekici from the University of Texas in Denton (USA) and Mr. Lindita Caci from the Institute of Economy & Management of Health and Environment in Tirana (Albania).

Dr. David A. McEntire of the University of North Texas, one of the key speakers and a leading expert in the field, noted: “The general feeling is that terrorism resistance can only be acquired when people – beyond the government – are involved.”

The experts challenged current counterterrorism policies, and stressed the importance of civil society in new approaches to limiting cultural grievances and discouraging ideologically motivated acts of violence.

The programme of the event is available at www.nato2008.org. A NATO Science Series book, Together against terrorism: Building terrorism resistant communities,will be published with input from the participants.

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