Post-Fordism and the Transformation of Transatlantic Counter-Terrorism

There is growing evidence that, led by the U.S., a transformation of trans-Atlantic counter-terrorism (CT) has occurred since 9/11. However, a theoretically informed framework for understanding how this has happened remains elusive. Using post-Fordist industrial theory and new evidence collected from senior practitioners across the trans-Atlantic space, this article provides a novel conceptual framework for understanding how states have transformed CT organization since 9/11, primarily in response to global jihadism. It shows how many of these solutions are remarkably similar and based on post-Fordist business and/or military best practices, including centralization and decentralization; integration of core and periphery workforces; a network approach to knowledge sharing; and outsourcing. The conclusion discusses the effectiveness of these solutions and their use in meeting new policy challenges.