In the first three phases, the focus of the research was on: What is the nature and causes of international terrorism? What is the analysis of the notion of collective moral responsibility? What forcible counter-terrorist tactics, e.g. preventative detention, targeted killing, are morally permissible?
The theoretical, empirical and applied ethics research completed formed the basis for addressing: How are ethical and effective counter-terrorist tactics to be integrated within an overall counter-terrorism strategy? How ought the key security agencies – police, military and intelligence – be redesigned to combat international terrorism? What accountability mechanisms need to be designed in relation to counter-terrorist tactics?
Thirteen workshops have been conducted in The Hague, Washington DC and Oxford University involving academics, senior police, military and intelligence personnel and policy-makers making presentations on issues such as the use of lethal force, detention, undercover operatives, interrogation of detained terrorists, extremist jihadist use of social media, and counter-radicalization. Twenty-five in-depth semi-structured and unstructured interviews have been conducted with key informants in The Netherlands, UK. USA, India, Israel, Australia and Canada. The interviewees include former heads of intelligence agencies, such as the CIA, and senior military commanders who have served in Iraq and elsewhere.
The original partnership in this ERC project of TU Delft (host institution) and the University of Oxford has been extended to include the Centre for National Security and Law at Georgetown University in Washington DC, and the Australian Centre for Policing and Security at Charles Sturt University in Canberr. These partners provide additional resources, e.g. senior academic input and research assistants.
Research achievements up till now:
1. Seventy-five research papers have been prepared and presented at thirteen workshops organised by the Principal Investigator.
2. Twenty-five key informant semi-structured in-depth interviews.
3. Two authored books published by leading international publishers in open access; two other authored books are under contract.
4. Four edited books published by leading international publishers in open access.
5. The two PhDs have been successfully completed and PhDs awarded.
6. Fifty-four academic articles published by researchers.
5. Project Website www.counterterrorismethics.com (to be updated)
6. PI et al researchers have made 20 presentations at non-ERC funded international workshops and conferences.
7. Final Conference in The Hague in September 2022 (delayed due to COVID).
