Loretta Napoleoni and the global economics of terrorism

Loretta Napoleoni gave the following talk at TED last summer. Napoleoni, a macroeconomist whose introduction to terrorism and money came through interviewing the Italian Red Brigades, demonstrates the intricate linkage of world finance and terrorist moneymaking. She also suggests the primary activity of terror networks is not politics or violence, but the raising of capital, which, in turn, funds the violence to further political ends.

Loretta Napoleoni is an Italian born economist, author, journalist and political analyst. “She is an expert on the financing of terrorism and is well known internationally for having calculated the size of the terror economy” (Wikipedia).

Among other books, Napoleoni has authored Terror Incorporated and Rouge Economics, both available below the video. Note: Her English is good, but her accent is still heavy and she has the cadence of a holiness preacher. She’s tough to understand at times. Subtitles are available.



