Program on Terrorism and Insurgency Research

About

The PTIR's mission is to improve knowledge about political violence within the academic, public, and policy spheres. We produce policy-relevant research on political violence using cutting-edge tools and technologies within the environment of a professional school of international affairs. Our unique setting encourages graduate student researchers to play crucial roles in developing and analyzing new data, thus enhancing our efficiency while encouraging skill development of graduate research assistants. 

Projects

• GATE Data Project. The Government Actions in Terror Environments (GATE) data project is a multi-institutional effort to collect and code data on state action toward terrorist organizations or their constituencies in select countries. To date, the GATE database is the most comprehensive source of information on how governments respond on a day-to-day basis to terrorist violence. This data can be used to identify how different types of government actions affect terrorist violence, why governments undertake certain actions, and a variety of other questions.

• Civil Resistance Project. The Nonviolent and Violent Conflict Outcomes (NAVCO) data project collects data on major nonviolent mass campaigns from 1900-2011 so that researchers can better understand the origins, dynamics, and outcomes of civilian-based resistance movements. The project involves a systematic effort to look inside both nonviolent and violent campaigns, notably at the type, sequence, and outcomes of different tactics employed by armed insurgents and unarmed civilians during their campaigns.

• Terrorism Network Project. This project is a multi-institutional effort to understand how terrorist networks emerge, and with whom terrorist groups ally. Data on terrorist group alliance patterns will be collected and analyzed, ultimately yielding a publicly available data set, several scholarly publications, and a host of case study narratives that can be used by policymakers to reduce the capacities of these groups to inflict harm. 

Goals

The PTIR enhances Korbel's core educational goals through the scholar-teacher model, with the following key aims:

• Stimulate critical thinking on problems of political violence, including terrorism, insurgency, and government repression.
• Involve students in cutting edge research projects related to the Program's themes.
• Develop research products (books, articles, and policy briefs) on related topics.
• Expand public awareness and discourse on solutions to political violence.
• Provide students interested in security studies with opportunities for professional development and career guidance.

The PTIR engages in several activities to realize these ends. Specifically, the PTIR

• Hosts research projects related to terrorism, counter-terrorism, insurgency, and governance.
• Employs students to conduct research in support of these projects.
• Raises internal and external funds to support research and pedagogical projects related to the study of political violence.
• Hosts speaker series and symposiums featuring scholars and practitioners working on problems of political violence. These events are available to the University of Denver community and to the broader public.
• Hosts a research workshop wherein Korbel faculty and students can present their research on problems related to political violence.
• Generates a roster of affiliates (from inside and outside of Korbel) who are available to mentor students interested in pursuing careers in security studies

Contact the PTIR:

Address:
Program on Terrorism and Insurgency Research
102 F Ben Cherrington Hall, University of Denver
2201 South Gaylord Street, Denver, CO 80208 USA

Office Phone: (303) 871-4240

Email: joel.day@du.edu