Because counterterrorism is a dynamic and frequently amorphous phenomenon, assessing its effectiveness is intrinsically difficult, Chiara Caterina Gatti writes. Conventional performance metrics that rely on the lack of attacks confuse operational results with real strategic achievements and can encourage securitization that compromises civil liberties. The paper makes the case for a multifaceted assessment approach that takes into account factors like effective risk management, social system resilience, and the deterioration of terrorists’ operational capabilities in addition to attack counts. It also highlights the significance of legitimacy, transparency, governance, and the rule of law as essential elements of long-term counterterrorism efficacy. The ability of institutions and society to accept and reduce risks without sacrificing democratic values should be the defining characteristic of success, not the eradication of hazards uo until its roots.
