Description

Illuminating Dark Networks discusses new necessary methods to understand dark networks, because these clandestine groups differ from transparent organizations. Clandestine groups and networks are fundamentally different than transparent organizations. Consequently, we need new and different tools to understand terror groups, criminal networks, and other violent non-state actors (VNSAs). Illuminating Dark Networks explores the state of the art in methods to study dark networks. Clandestine groups and networks are fundamentally different than transparent organizations. Consequently, we need new and different tools to understand terror groups, criminal networks, and other violent non-state actors (VNSAs). Illuminating Dark Networks explores the state of the art in methods to study dark networks. Some of the most important international security threats stem from terror groups, criminal enterprises, and other violent non-state actors (VNSAs). Because these groups are often structured as complex, dark networks, analysts have begun to use network science to study them. However, standard network tools were originally developed to examine companies, friendship groups, and other transparent networks. The inherently clandestine nature of dark networks dictates that conventional analytical tools do not always apply. Data on dark networks is incomplete, inaccurate, and often just difficult to find. Moreover, dark networks are often organized to undertake fundamentally different tasks than transparent networks, so resources and information may follow different paths through these two types of organizations. Given the distinctive characteristics of dark networks, unique tools and methods are needed to understand these structures. Illuminating Dark Networks explores the state of the art in methods to study and understand dark networks. Introduction Luke M. Gerdes; 1. Covert network analysis: an exchange network theory perspective Elisa Jayne Bienenstock and Michael Salwen; 2. Dark dimensions: classifying relationships among clandestine actors Luke M. Gerdes; 3. Disrupting and dismantling dark networks: lessons from social network analysis and law enforcement simulations David A. Bright; 4. The methodological challenges of extracting dark networks: minimizing false positives through ethnography Michael Kenney and Stephen Coulthart; 5. Detecting dark networks using geo-temporal and pattern based network analysis techniques Rich La Valley, Abe Usher and Alexander Halman; 6. LookingGlass: a visual intelligence platform for tracking social movements Hasan Davulcu and Mark Woodward; 7. Open source exploitation for understanding covert networks Kathleen M. Carley; 8. Simulating and analyzing dark networks: modeling and measuring using network tools David C. Arney, Jocelyn R. Bell, Kathryn A. Coronges and Greg Merkl; 9. Criminal social network intelligence analysis with the GANG software Paulo Shakarian, Michael Martin, John Bertetto, Bradley Fischl, Joseph Hannigan, Guillermo Hernandez, Evan Kenney, Jacob Lademan, Damon Paulo and Christian Young; 10. A new approach for identification of multiple threat scenarios to counter CBRN networks Ronald Breiger and Lauren Pinson; 11. Casting more light on dark networks: a stochastic actor-oriented longitudinal analysis of the Noordin top terrorist network Daniel Cunningham, Sean F. Everton and Philip J. Murphy; 12. Generating illicit networks: multi-level agent-based modeling and network formation rules among extremis