Lecture 10: covert networks: terrorist and crime

Question 1

efficiency-security trade-off

Answer 1

• having a periphery gives les risk in the network, but info takes longer to travel
• or highly centralised network makes it more efficient, but removal of nodes disrupts the network

The interplay between the need to make the network act collectively and the need to assure trust and security within these risky collaborative settings

• same goes for efficiency-flexibilty trade-off

Question 2

star vs. chain pattern

Answer 2

star:

• more efficient, less secure
• prone to logistical failure

chain:

• more secure, less efficient
• long-term viability

Question 3

terrorist vs. criminal organizations

Answer 3

terrorist:
- ideologically driven
- long time to task
- strong focus on security
- weaker core (chain)
criminal:
- driven by monetary gain
- short time to taks
- stronger focus on efficiency and flexibilty (star)
- stronger core

Question 4

How did 9/11 terrorist remain hidden for so long?

Answer 4

• network has the shape of a snake: it is sparse and there is considerable distance between members of the networks
• high security, low communication flow
• strong ties that appear as weak ties because they’re rarely activated

Question 5

organized crime with degree and betweenness centrality

Answer 5

degree centrality: high (direct contacts) –> more visible –> more vulnerable
betweenness centrality: high –> more strategic (can control flow of info)