Which of the following statements is most accurate regarding research on the mitigation of terrorist attacks on infrastructure?

The statement that research has only begun in recent years is reflective of the reality that significant academic and practical attention to mitigating terrorist attacks on infrastructure truly gained momentum in the aftermath of high-profile incidents, particularly in the early 2000s. Prior to that, while there were certainly studies related to terrorism and security, the specific focus on infrastructure mitigation was not as pronounced.

As threats have evolved and the understanding of infrastructure vulnerability has deepened, researchers began to focus on how to effectively prepare for, respond to, and recover from attacks aimed at critical infrastructure. This focus has been spurred by a growing recognition of the critical role that infrastructure plays in national security and public safety.

Although extensive research has been done since then, the statement emphasizes the relatively recent surge in scholarly efforts, indicating that prior to this heightened awareness, such research was limited or not methodologically rigorous. Additionally, while operationalizing mitigation strategies and prioritizing government research are important considerations, they don’t negate the fact that this particular area of study is still relatively new when viewed in the larger context of terrorism research.