Psychological and social factors in radicalization toward terrorism

Terrorism and Counterterrorism

Causes of Terrorism

Terrorism clearly draws attention to the group that perpetuated the crime in the media although it is not clear that it 'works' to achieve the stated goals of the groups that use it. Studies of the efficacy of terrorism indicate that it often backfires, at least violent terrorism. "When terrorists kill civilians or captives, it significantly lowers the likelihood of bargaining success" (Solomon 2013). However, some might argue that the accomplishments of former terrorist organizations in gaining the ability to negotiate with the offending power such as the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) (both of which have long renounced terrorism but which began as paramilitary groups) might suggest that violence is often useful in achieving group objectives (Solomon 2013).

But in these instances, the goals of the groups were relatively concrete (expelling British and Israeli influence, respectively, from contested territories). Other groups, such as Al-Qaida, seem to have a more diffuse goal of merely waging a cultural war against the West that is impossible to say that one has 'won.' Also, "Islamic terrorists often make what seem to outsiders as unrealistic demands because the terrorists see them as sacred, but are able to claim victory if they are even partially met," which means that even what seems like a failure in the eyes of the West is a victory to the terrorist -- simply the ability to do violence and gain attention is 'victory' enough even if the terrorists claim that their ultimate goal is the eradication of secular Western civilization (Solomon 2013).