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Who Becomes A Terrorist?
Instrumental and
Psychological Explanations
Who Becomes A Terrorist?
Instrumental Explanations
- Four Main Questions:
- In Which Immediate Political Contexts Should We Expect Terrorism to Be a Rational Choice for Groups?
- Which Individuals Should Be Expected to Rationally Choose to Become a Member of a Group Whose Main Political Weapon is Terrorism?
What Leads to the Rational
Development of Terrorist
Movements?
- Preconditions
- Permissive: Modernization – restructuring of societies (cultural), transportation and communication (mobility and publicity) Urbanization – provides more opportunity for interaction and covert operations, and eliminates other options such as guerilla and full- frontal assaults (concentration of state power) Social Facilitation – social habits and historical traditions (Irish example)
What Leads to the Rational
Development of Terrorist
Movements?
Concrete grievances among a subgroup – this can lead to the development of social movements to redress the grievances
Lack of opportunity for political participation – this may not be directed toward any particular subgroup
Extremist Elite
- Willing to suffer large personal costs to receive potential benefits
- Basic Necessities Covered (Time, Energy, Requisite Resources)
- Educated individuals who have an idea of what government should do, what the government is doing wrong, and an idea that activism works
Problem of Collective
Action: The Advantage of
Extremist Elites
- Extremist Elites Have Many Problems; Overcoming Immediate Collective Action Problems Not Normally One
- Olsonian Collective Action Problem: Like minded individuals want to get the same thing accomplished As the group gets larger, free riding more likely Excessive free riding equals the end of the endeavor (example of collective security and the UN) Solutions: Selective incentives for large groups, highly motivated individuals each willing to bear a large part of the burden of getting the job done in small groups For Extremist Elite – Self Selection Diminishes Free Riding
Permissive Preconditions : Modernization Urbanization Social Facilitation
Enabling Preconditions : Concrete Grievances No Opportunity for Political Participation
Apathetic Subgroup Majority :
- Costs of redressing grievances higher than likely benefits
Motivated Extremist Elite Minority : Benefits of redressing grievances higher than costs Educated Fewer time or material constraints on participation
Small-Group Collective Action Solution Precipitating Factor/Event Broader Terrorist Campaign involvement of subgroup majority
Pressure on target Change in Status Quo
Important Anomalies
Concerning Terrorism For
Which Rational Choice Theory
Seems Ill-Equipped
- Why do we sometimes see extremely young individuals sacrificing their lives for a cause they may not understand, and when they may not have felt the oppression that is the root enemy of the group? (e.g., Hamas)
- Why do we see extremely violent attacks that seem to guarantee the subsequent eradication of the group? (e.g., Al-Queda)
- Why do we see the continuation of terrorist violence by groups even after the defeat of the groups or the attainment of objectives (e.g., PIRA)
Psychological Perspectives
on Terrorism
Two general areas of interest
The desire of individuals to join groups (identity, camaraderie)
The effects of group dynamics on individual/group thinking (groupthink)
Why do Individuals Form or
Join Terrorist Groups?
- Rational Choice Explanation:
Relatively educated, financially secure, politically motivated
Join to change unjust status quo
Willing to incur high costs
Time and energy Possible retaliation by status quo power Banishment from society
Why do Individuals Participate
in and Escalate Terrorist
Violence after Joining?
- Rational Choice Explanation:
Choice commensurate with cost- benefit analysis Power very limited, but circumstances dictate that the cause can be furthered by using violence
Status quo power too cruel, unjust to allow SQ to continue (Crenshaw – precipitant)
Why do Individuals Participate
in and Escalate Terrorist
Violence after Joining?
- Psychological Explanations:
- After completing mundane tasks: Gradual indoctrination, socialization, desensitization to violence “Defining moment” – der sprung Guilt associated with violence mitigated by group acceptance and sense of identification (may not even be justifiable) Peer pressure promotes self-sacrifice Solidarity via violence (greater violence = greater solidarity) Can cause continuation/needless escalation of violence