A unique research center dedicated to reducing the global threat of terrorism and minimizing its impact on society was launched on May 25 by an international alliance of leading universities.



The International Center for the Study of Terrorism (ICST) brings together experts from both sides of the Atlantic and from other countries to investigate the root causes of this worldwide phenomenon, understand its long-term effects on society and identify new ways of safeguarding individuals, organizations and communities.



How do terrorist groups draw in and socialize new members? How can terrorists’ confidence in their leaders be undermined? How can diffused terrorist networks be disrupted? How can the behavioral patterns and physical characteristics of suicide bombers be detected before they reach their target? Does the nature of the media’s coverage of terrorism have an impact on radicalization? Clusters of researchers from the partner universities are seeking answers to such questions by drawing on a range of academic disciplines, including psychology, sociology, political science, anthropology, religious studies, criminology and mathematics.



The hub of the ICST is at Penn State University. Most of the other partners are members of the Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) — a group of 16 universities in the UK, mainland Europe, the United States and China that pool their research strengths to address topics of major significance, from climate change to wireless communications.



“Terrorism is not the preserve of any one ethnic, religious or political group; it crosses national borders and is a source of widespread fear,” said Penn State President Graham B. Spanier.” “The new center has much to contribute. Its academics are not bound by the preconceptions and assumptions of any one discipline, perspective or ideology,” he added. “Its objective is new, scientifically validated knowledge, grounded in the best available data and the most rigorous methodologies.”



“The International Center for the Study of Terrorism is devoted to turning knowledge into action,” said Kevin Murphy, professor of psychology and director of the center. One of the ICST’s first initiatives will be to bring together experts from around the world to assess how much is known about the psychology of terrorism and to define what needs to be done to raise the global level of awareness.