Finding The Limit: The Strategic Potential Of The Network Based Actor

Non-state, network-based threats are elusive and effective. There is an ongoing discussion about howthe U.S. government can best counter these threats. What is lacking in this discussion is a clearunderstanding and general agreement concerning what these threats are capable of. The potential of thesenetworks should be the primary driver of these discussions. Currently there is a split among researchersconcerning the potential of network-based actors. The source of this division is a debate about whether andto what extent decentralized network-based actors can conduct strategic planning. This thesis contributesto the debate through qualitative analysis of two non-state, network-based actors, to show the capacity toplan strategically, evidenced by their ability to acquire and employ agents of influence.