Business Confronts Terrorism

In the aftermath of September 11th, the daily barrage of predictions of incipient terrorist attacks against business targets - nuclear power and chemical plants, shopping malls, financial institutions, tourist attractions - has accelerated the need to understand the impact of terrorism on business. The business community - personnel, facilities, and operations - constitutes a prime target of contemporary terrorism. This work analyzes the threats facing US business due to terrorism, industry responses to these dangers, and terrorism's effects on conducting business in the post-9/11 environment. It details the conventional and unconventional terrorist capabilities facing US industry. It describes the activities of terrorists in the economic system, the ways they finance their operations, and the negative financial and economic consequences of terrorism. It also discusses how companies can reduce terrorist threats and ways that corporate security can minimize political violence.