Authors: Filip Dragojević, Paul James, Krešimir Mamić and Robert Mikac
Published in: Triggering Terror: Illicit Gun Markets and Firearms Acquisition of Terrorist Networks in Europe, April 2018
The project “Studying Acquisition of Illicit Firearms by Terrorists in Europe” within the subcomponent of research in the Republic of Croatia had an aim to perceive, explore, analyze and present the size and dynamics of the illegal small arms and light weapons market as well as its potential availability to terrorist organizations and/or individuals with terrorist intentions.
The research methodology included an introductory section in which a review of the modern history of the Republic of Croatia and its geostrategic and geopolitical context with a special aspect to the region of Southeast Europe is presented. Attention was then devoted to an analysis of the existing normative framework which regulates the issues of small arms and light weapons as well as the suppression of the illegal market.
The next part is related to a quantifying analysis of different historical and current statistical data as well as indicators of available relevant databases important for the subject research. The most significant part is related to interviews and surveys of experts and analysts who are dealing with or had been dealing directly or indirectly with the subject area during their professional career.
The subject research is a unique and so far in the Republic of Croatia has never been carried out in this way of comprehensiveness and methodological setup, which included the observation and analysis of relevant indicators important for the project’s goals as well as the due diligence of the situation. In the implementation of the project, relevant important factors and institutions which are dealing with these issues were actively involved and some of them provided their own databases needed for the research.
Availability-of-illegal-weapons-connecting-the-dots.pdf (848 downloads)