About MonTREP

The Monterey Terrorism Research and Education Program (MonTREP) at the Monterey Institute of International Studies is a research and educational component of the Graduate School of International Policy and Management which conducts in-depth scholarly research, assesses policy options, and engages in public education on issues relating to terrorism and political violence, political and religious extremism, insurgency and counterinsurgency [COIN], and related aspects of international security. The focus of the program is on the study of violence-prone extremist groups of all types and their historical evolution, ideological motivations, organizational structure, demographic profile, operational methods, and potential interest in carrying out mass casualty attacks (including through the acquisition and use of so-called "weapons of mass destruction" [WMD]). Our experts examine the motivational factors that lead terrorist groups to select designated "enemies," choose particular targets, and resort to different types of attacks in an effort both to inform scholars and policymakers and to enhance the level of public knowledge about how and why such actors make strategic, operational, and tactical decisions. Our objective is to undertake projects that adhere to the highest scholarly and academic standards but also have the potential to contribute to the formulation of more effective security and counterterrorism policies.

Since its inception, MonTREP has supported the work of a wide range of private and public institutions, ranging from government agencies to international organizations to academic foundations. MonTREP is also a partner in the National Center for the Study of Terrorism and the Responses to Terrorism (NC-START). NC-START is a consortium of educational and research institutions that received the competitive award as the fourth Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence (DHS-COE).

The research, analyses, and threat assessments generated by MonTREP combine in-depth historical, political, and sociological research, regional and language expertise, a wide variety of methodological approaches, and - when necessary - technical assessments and scientific analyses. Our staff relies primarily on its own in-house expertise, but also has close collaborative relations with numerous outside experts who can be recruited as contractors for particular projects. Such an integrated approach allows MonTREP to conduct cutting-edge qualitative and qualitative studies in the areas of terrorism, ideological extremism, COIN, WMD, and international security. While many organizations continue to struggle to develop or refine their thinking about these critical aspects of the terrorist threat, the Monterey Terrorism Research and Education Program at the Monterey Institute of International Studies has already spent several years analyzing these crucial issues and is therefore especially well-placed to make significant contributions to national and international security.

MonTREP's Definition of Terrorism