Why did the Central Intelligence Agency place greater emphasis on terrorists and international criminal organizations after the Cold War?

Following the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, the Central Intelligence Agency underwent a significant shift in its mission and institutional structure. Having previously dedicated more than half of its resources to activities aimed at the Soviet Union, the agency redirected its focus toward nonstate actors, specifically terrorists and international criminal organizations.12

This transition was driven by the emergence of transnational threats that were no longer confined to single nations. Advances in transportation and telecommunications—such as the Internet and global air travel—enabled geographically dispersed groups to coordinate activities, move operatives, and transfer funds with unprecedented ease. Furthermore, the economic instability following the Soviet collapse created an environment where organized crime flourished, and concerns grew regarding the proliferation of nuclear weapons and other dangerous materials falling into the hands of rogue states or terrorist groups.31