Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2018 Government and Nongovernmental Collaboration to Build Community Resiliency Against Terrorism in Oklahoma City Kimberly K. Heltz Walden University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the Criminology Commons, Criminology and Criminal Justice Commons, Public Administration Commons, and the Quantitative, Qualitative, Comparative, and Historical Methodologies Commons This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Walden University College of Social and Behavioral Sciences This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by Kimberly K Heltz has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Jacqueline Thomas, Committee Chairperson, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Dr. Mark Gordon, Committee Member, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Dr. Timothy Fadgen, University Reviewer, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Chief Academic Officer Eric Riedel, Ph.D. Walden University 2018 Abstract Government and Nongovernmental Collaboration to Build Community Resiliency Against Terrorism in Oklahoma City by Kimberly K Heltz MA, Norwich University, 2005 BS, Regents College, 2003 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Policy and Administration Walden University May 2018 Abstract The way communities build resiliency and prepare for acts of terrorism is ambiguous in the United States; best practices remain unclear. Due to mobility and advancements in communication technologies, individuals and organizations share information, incite anger, recruit, and act on ideological grievances with ease. Such grievances are bolstered by the political and social exclusion of disparate groups through poorly designed policies and ineffective government structures. Using a combination of social constructivism and systems thinking theories, this case study explored collaboration efforts between government agencies and nongovernment experts in Oklahoma City, OK, identifying best practices as a result of lessons learned following the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. Data were acquired through public records related to the bombing, combined with a qualitative survey of 31 community leaders. These data were inductively coded and subjected to a thematic analysis procedure. Key findings indicate that while open communication with the community and increased coordination were suggested by participants, reports were kept internal to each agency and not widely shared or implemented effectively across the community. Sharing the identified best practices and acknowledging collaboration opportunities promotes positive social change by involving the broader community and building early resiliency to address ideologic grievances and create more effective community counterterrorism plans. Government and Nongovernmental Collaboration to Build Community Resiliency Against Terrorism in Oklahoma City by Kimberly K Heltz MA, Norwich University, 2005 BS, Regents College, 2003 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Policy and Administration Walden University May 2018 Dedication To my father for telling me I could do anything I dreamed of, to my mother who taught me how, to my sons who sacrificed their time and encouraged me every day, to my dearest husband who helped me over the final hurdles, and finally to my daughter and granddaughter who inspired me to finish and live my dreams. Thank you for believing in me. Table of Contents List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... iv Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ....................................................................................1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................1 Background ....................................................................................................................2 Problem Statement .........................................................................................................6 Purpose of the Study ......................................................................................................9 Research Questions ......................................................................................................11 Theoretical Framework ................................................................................................11 Nature of the Study ......................................................................................................14 Definitions....................................................................................................................15 Assumptions .................................................................................................................17 Scope and Delimitations ..............................................................................................18 Limitations ...................................................................................................................18 Significance of the Study .............................................................................................19 Summary ......................................................................................................................20 Chapter 2: Literature Review .............................................................................................21 Introduction ..................................................................................................................21 Literature Search Strategy............................................................................................22 State of Terrorism Research.........................................................................................23 Definitional Challenges ........................................................................................ 24 Historic Patterns ...........................................................................................................26 i 1870-1920s: Anarchist Wave ................................................................................ 28 1920s-1960s: Anti-Colonial Wave ....................................................................... 29 1960s-1980s: New Left Wave/Marxist ................................................................. 30 1970s-2020s: Religious ......................................................................................... 31 Post 9/11 Security Environment ........................................................................... 32 Theoretical Directions ..................................................................................................33 State/Regime Based Terrorism ............................................................................. 34 Insurgent Based Terrorism Theories ..................................................................... 39 Agent-based Analysis: Radicalization .................................................................. 39 Institutional Analysis: Organizational Management ............................................ 50 Systemic Analysis: Causes of Ideological Grievances ......................................... 55 Counterterrorism ..........................................................................................................61 Summary ......................................................................................................................66 Chapter 3: Research Method ..............................................................................................69 Introduction ..................................................................................................................69 Research Design and Rationale ...................................................................................69 Role of the Researcher .................................................................................................71 Methodology ................................................................................................................72 Issues of Trustworthiness .............................................................................................78 Summary ......................................................................................................................81 Chapter 4: Results ..............................................................................................................83 Introduction ..................................................................................................................83 ii Case Study Setting .......................................................................................................84 Historic Data Collection ..............................................................................................87 Analysis Process ..........................................................................................................87