The slow route to victory : understanding strategic innovation in terrorist organisations

Abstract

This doctoral thesis presents a preliminary theoretical framework on how terrorist organizations innovate their strategy. The project carries out a structured, focused comparison among three historical organizations (ETA, PIRA, and Red Brigades) and, in doing so, investigates the rationale and dynamics of the strategic innovation process. The ensuing theoretical framework delineates strategic innovation as a process displaying a gradual and progressive build-up, and articulated in the stages of Evaluation, Formulation, Adoption, and Implementation. While the first two stages involve a range of different actors, the leadership and the decision-making bodies play a considerable role in adopting and implementing innovations. Contrary to previous scholarship, the framework also discusses how strategic innovation is not necessarily related to escalations in violence. Similarly, it highlights an important difference between strategic change and strategic innovation. Finally, the case studies also explore the important role that cultural artefacts play in the innovation process. While acknowledging the limitations of the proposed theoretical framework, the thesis also presents a few suggestions for future research.