ABSTRACT
Global society is in the midst of a significant transition, perhaps on the scale of a vast epochal change. Technological innovation, globalization, the emergence of networks and the evolution of state forms are changing the nature of war, crime and threats to society. The security dynamics emerging during this transition constitute what appears to be a new suite of threats. Foremost in this array of threats is global terrorism. Extremist organizations, exemplified by the self-proclaimed global jihadi movement described as al Qaeda and its affiliates, are complex non-state actors operating as transnational networks within a galaxy or nebula of like-minded networks. These transnational entities pose security threats to nation-states and collective global security. New approaches are needed to meet these circumstances. This chapter explores these dynamics.1
