Abstract:
This document presents the findings of a study into methods that can help
counterterrorism professionals make decisions about ethical problems. The study was
commissioned by the Research and Documentation Centre (Wetenschappelijk Onderzoeken
Documentatiecentrum, WODC) of the Dutch Ministry of Security and Justice
(Ministerie van Veiligheid en Justitie), on behalf of the National Coordinator for
Counterterrorism and Security (Nationaal Coördinator Terrorismebestrijding en Veiligheid,
NCTV). The research team at RAND Europe was complemented by applied ethics expert
Anke van Gorp from the Research Centre for Social Innovation (Kenniscentrum Sociale
Innovatie) at Hogeschool Utrecht. The study provides an inventory of methods to support
ethical decision-making in counterterrorism, drawing on the experience of other public
sectors – healthcare, social work, policing and intelligence – and multiple countries,
primarily the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
The report introduces the field of applied ethics; identifies key characteristics of ethical
decision-making in counterterrorism; and describes methods that can help
counterterrorism professionals make decisions in these situations. Finally, it explores how
methods used in other sectors may be applied to ethical decision-making in
counterterrorism. It also describes the level of effectiveness that may be expected from the
various methods. The report is based on a structured literature search and interviews with
professionals and academics with expertise in applied ethics.
This report will be of interest to counterterrorism professionals who are responsible for
strengthening ethical decision-making in their organisation. It may provide some insights
for professionals who seek new methods to help them make ethical decisions. The findings
may also be relevant for other professionals, if complemented by a review of decisionmaking
characteristics in their sector of specialism.
