Pressestimmen
"'Bruno Frey has done it again! He has taken the number 1 topic on everyone's lips - terrorism - and undertaken a careful and highly relevant analysis of potential causes and ways of extracting ourselves from the curse of terrorism. He presents several options. Scholars who have been distressed with the over centralized regimes imposed or recommended to many developing countries will be pleased to read his discussion of polycentricism as among the policies that may enhance capabilities to solve underlying grievances associated with terrorism. Social scientists and policymakers will both find this book of considerable value.' - Elinor Ostrom, Indiana University, US; 'A powerful plea for tackling terrorism not only by force but by incentives to abandon terrorism.' - Lord Layard, London School of Economics, UK"
Kurzbeschreibung
Emphasising a positive approach to dealing with terrorism (the carrot), this book provides a critique of deterrence policy (the stick) which can be ineffective and even counterproductive, and proposes three alternative and effective anti-terrorist policies: Decentralisation reduces vulnerability to terrorist attacks. A system with many different centres is more stable due to its diversity, enabling one part to substitute for another; Positive incentives can be offered to actual and prospective terrorists not to engage in violent acts. Incentives include: Reintegrating terrorists into society, welcoming repentants and offering them valued opportunities; Diverting attention by naming several terrorist groups potentially responsible for a particular terrorist act. The government thus supplies more information than the terrorist responsible would wish. The proposed anti-terrorist policy has two important advantages over a coercive policy: The whole interaction between terrorists and the government transforms into a positive sum game and the strategy undermines the cohesiveness of the terrorist organisation.
