Terrorism and economy

The article analyzes some aspects of the financial foundations of modern terrorism, considers sources of funding terrorist organization and movements, highlights the factors affecting the development of this phenomenon, presents the author´s view on the issue of "terrorist" finances. The authors substantiate that economic factors are the terrorism foundation, in this regard terrorist activity as an economic category is considered in two aspects: financing of separated terrorist acts and in general the terrorist ideology and practice. Some of the "traditional" options for the legalization of criminal incomes by terrorists are described. The specifics of terrorist economy as rule is that criminals for illegal activity usually get income in the form of cash. However, traditional use of cash for terrorist purposes in the current conditions takes second place and supplanted by developing non-cash financial instruments. The article distinguishes the financial and organizational factors that are favorable for terrorist activities, analyzes connection and interaction of terrorism and economic and financial spheres from the perspective of the "violent entrepreneurship" theory. Violent entrepreneurship is defined as a set of solutions and strategies, allowing to convert permanently an organized force in the cash income and other benefits that have market value. The authors offer the three-stage financial model of a terrorist attack. The first stage is advancement of political, economic and other requirements with the threat to paralyze the whole economic system of the country in case of their failure. The second stage includes demonstrational attack (or its threat) to a single economic structure and paralyzation of its actions. The third stage is repetition of requirements in a more rigid form relying on the effect of real or possible demonstration of force. In conclusion, the authors forecasts the future economic goals of global terrorism. Currently, the problem of financial and economic terrorism cannot be separated from the information, and in the future, information terrorism will focus on the global economy.