ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the technological innovation of weaponry and attack techniques in provisional Irish republican Army, but the processes abstracted with the aid of evolutionary thinking apply to other terrorism-waged conflicts and to the struggle with organized crime. It argues that adopting an evolutionary perspective on terrorism and counter-terrorism helps understand and exploit past history, beneficially influence present risks, and prepare for future challenges. The chapter also focuses on three aspects of counter-terrorism policy and practice which seem particularly informed by the evolutionary perspective – the need for an anticipatory stance, how to handle co-evolution, and the importance of design. Evolution covers processes highly relevant to the strategic view on crime prevention and counter-terrorism adaptation, innovation and improvisation. If studies connecting evolution and crime are rare, those combining evolution, terrorism and crime science are scarcer than a fossilized Denisovan finger bone.
