Thematic Subject Area I: The Causes and Underlying Factors of Terrorism

Individual and Psychological Explanations of Terrorism
The psychological make-up of individual terrorists and terrorist leaders can be an important factor in explaining their actions. This working group is concerned with what drives terrorists to commit violent acts, and how understanding their motivations can lead to a more effective response.

Political Explanations
Terrorism is politically motivated violence, and terrorists have exploited real as well as perceived political grievances. This working group examines the political causes of terrorism, and aims to identify if there are legitimate grievances which can be addressed.

Economic Explanations
This working group surveys the economic factors that underlie and sustain terrorism. Most radical movements that espouse violence arise from broader political conflicts centred on the demands of disadvantaged groups. What role is played by economic factors, and how do they inter-play with extreme ideologies and repressive state policies? What influence can be attributed to globalisation?

Religion and Religious Extremism
Some of the most violent terrorist groups in recent years have presented religion as a justification for their actions. This working group investigates the role of religion as a cause of terrorism, and explores what steps can be taken to foster inter-religious dialogue, tolerance and understanding.

Cultural Explanations
Terrorism is sometimes seen as a violent reaction to alien cultural values and influences. This working group deals with the question of how perceptions of cultural alienation and humiliation have contributed to the rise of international terrorism, and how these can be addressed.

Thematic Subject Area II: Confronting Terrorism

Policing
Global terrorism is local in its consequences, and it is national police forces that shoulder much of the responsibility for dealing with terrorism. This working group is devoted to how police forces can fight terrorism within the rule of law, and how international co-operation can improve their effectiveness.

Intelligence
In the struggle against terrorism, good intelligence is key. At the same time, many intelligence agencies have found it difficult to adapt to the challenge. This working group deals with the reform of the intelligence services, and how international co-operation could improve their effectiveness.

Military Responses
Terrorists do not function as conventional armies – they rarely wear uniforms and hold territory. Any potential role for the military in responding to the rise of global terrorism, therefore, requires continuously evolving approaches as part of a comprehensive strategy. This working group focuses on the role and the limitations of military force in confronting terrorism.

Terrorist Finance
No terrorist organisation can operate without financial resources. This working group debates the most important measures that need to be taken by governments and the financial community in order to make it more difficult for terrorist organisations to fund their activities.

Legal responses
The rise of international terrorism calls for new legal frameworks and increased co-operation at the inter-state level. What new laws are required to cope with the terrorist threat? How can international agreements be made more responsive to the demands of the new security environment?

Thematic Subject Area III: Democratic Responses

Human rights
Faced with the need to identify and dismantle terrorist networks, the protection of human rights has come under increasing strain. This working group analyses the defence of human rights within the struggle against terrorism, and their essential role as part of a democratic response to terrorism.

Good governance
Both political instability and authoritarianism can create the conditions in which terrorist movements and their extremist ideologies flourish. This working group examines how transparent and accountable governance structures can be created and promoted.

International institutions
Global terrorism requires a global response. Yet, while international co-operation is more necessary than ever, the struggle against terrorism has raised serious questions about the effectiveness and relevance of some international institutions. This working group explores how international co-operation can effectively contribute to the fight against terrorism.

Thematic Subject Area IV: Civil Society

Democracy From Below
A healthy democracy needs a vibrant civil society and a strong democratic political culture. This working group is directed at how to promote the spread and growth of democracy and how to encourage political transition from the grassroots, not least because authoritarian regimes often provide the breeding ground for violent movements.

Marginalising the Extremists
Extremist ideologies and fundamentalism thrive in conditions of despair and limited opportunities. This working group analyses the political ideologies that are used to justify violence, and the strategies that can be employed to counter them. How can we break the cycle of violence, fear and extremism?

Dealing with Violence
Ordinary people are directly affected not only by the most extreme manifestations of violence, such as terrorism, but also by a pervasive ‘culture of violence’. This working group explores what citizens can do to deal with all forms of violence in their societies – political, criminal and domestic.

Reception hosted by Club of Madrid

UN High Level Panel Report
The UN Secretary-General’s High Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change provides crucial recommendations for the multilateral system to address the terrorist threat. Does the current international framework allow effective action against terrorism? How should international institutions address the link between terrorism and other major threats?
This panel will be organised in co-operation with Fundación para las Relaciones Internacionales y el Diálogo Exterior (FRIDE).


The World Over a Barrel
The rise of global terrorism has highlighted both our dependence on oil from the Middle East and the vulnerability of the energy supply. What contributions can business make to enhance the safety of the world’s energy? A geo-political assessment of the links between energy and terrorism.
This panel will be organised in co-operation with the Instituto de Empresa.

Religion and Religious Extremism
From Tokyo to Madrid, more terrorist groups than ever before are using religion to justify their actions. What explains the rise in religiously motivated terrorism? How can we prevent abuses and misinterpretations of religious texts? What role can all faiths play in promoting religious tolerance and inter-religious dialogue?

Stopping the Spread of WMDs
Chemical, biological, nuclear or radiological weapons in the hands of terrorists represent perhaps the greatest potential threat to international security today. How great is this risk, and how can we avert it? What can democracies do to improve international co-operation on non-proliferation?

From Violence to Voting
Non-state armed actors frequently enter political negotiations to reach peace agreements, yet the conditions that enable successful engagement remain elusive. This panel explores the case for engagement with armed groups, and the impact that the “war on terror” has had on peacemaking processes.
This panel will be organised in co-operation with Conciliation Resources

Media and Terrorism: Friends or Foes?
Terrorism is a strategy of communication. How do terrorists use the modern media? What is the media’s role and responsibility in the struggle against terrorism? How can responsible journalists strike the right balance between the need to inform the public and the desire to protect it from terrorism?
This panel will be organised in co-operation with Grupo Prisa.

Terrorism: The Spanish Experience
In spite of its successful transition to democracy, Spain has had to live with the threat from terrorism throughout its recent history. This workshop reviews the Spanish experience with terrorism, including the March 11 attacks. How has terrorism changed Spanish society? What lessons have been learned?
This panel will be organised in co-operation with Rey Juan Carlos University

Terrorism Goes High Tech
Science and technology have improved our daily lives, yet in many respects they have also made our societies more vulnerable. How are terrorists likely to exploit recent advances in all forms of technology? What future threat scenarios are most likely? In turn, how can we harness technology and science to fight terrorism more effectively?

The Impact of Terrorism on Financial Institutions
Even though financial markets proved remarkably robust in the weeks after 9/11, terrorism has had a profound impact on financial markets and institutions. What can we do to make markets and institutions even more robust, in terms of both infrastructure and systemic stability? How has the fight against terrorist financing affected financial markets? Are existing approaches sufficient or is there more we should be doing?
This panel will be organised in co-operation with the Instituto de Empresa.

Workshop: Terrorism, Democracy and the Internet
Despite their anti-modern ideology, some of the most violent terrorist groups have also been the most skilled in exploiting the advantages of the Internet. How can we stop this abuse of modern communications technology, while preserving the advantages and freedoms that it offers?
This workshop will be organised in co-operation with the Safe Democracy Foundation.