Publication

This paper discusses al-Qaida's organizational behavior and transformation, proposes a typology of Islamist terrorist organizations that puts forward the concept of the Dune organization and draws comparisons between different Islamistic terrorist groups. It introduces al-Qaida's development from a hierarchical and network perspective, explains the concept of the Dune organization and develops a typology of terrorist organizations. Subsequently, the authors compare the Dune concept with traditional organizational forms of terrorism. They argue that al-Qaida as a Dune organization relies on a strategy of territorial disappearance and lack of imminent institutional presence.