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Terrorism research and the diffusion of ideas

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Knowledge and Policy

Abstract

The diffusion of ideas about contemporary terrorism is analyzed using a sociology of science methodology. One of the most common means of creating understandings of a phenomenon is the development and diffusion of ideas that influence the positions adopted by a wide range of actors, including government bureaucrats and decision makers, legislative and corporate bodies, and the public. How did terrorism researchers interact with these actors to construct, maintain, and modify the development and perception of contemporary terrorism? How were the ideas diffused and what impact did they have on policymakers? Did the invisible college of terrorism researchers function as an epistemic community? These questions are analyzed using an integrated research strategy that employs a number of techniques and data sources such as bibliometrics, content analysis, and citation analysis of selected terrorism research publications, biographies, and conferences, and on-line tracing of researchers’ affiliations, participations, and collaborations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. SCILS, Rutgers University, 4 Huntington Street, 08903, New Brunswick, NJ

    Edna O. F. Reid (assistant professor)

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  1. Edna O. F. Reid
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Correspondence to Edna O. F. Reid.

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Her research interests include scholarly communication and on-line information retrieval systems. She received her doctorate from the University of Southern California and a MLS from the University of Maryland.

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Reid, E.O.F. Terrorism research and the diffusion of ideas. Knowledge and Policy 6, 17–37 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02692799

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