Dying for the cause: The rationality of martyrs, suicide bombers and self-immolators

Greenland, Andrew; Proulx, Damon; Savage, David A.

doi:10.1177/1043463119900327

Cited by 7 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…This study is relevant to the impact of religion for suicide terrorism recruitment. Greenland (2020) explored the rationality of martyrs, self-immolators, and suicide bombers in dying for causes in exchange for an infinite afterlife. The study engaged a simplified expected utility-based model to include variations of infinitely rewarding afterlife's and explore how this may impact the expected utility and rationality of earthly actions and decisions of individuals when the expected utility payoff is infinite.…”

Section: Empirical Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Illustratively, the lethality and high casualty ratio of suicide terrorism could be seen in its over 2,153 suicide attacks worldwide from 1980-2009 (Pape & Feldman, 2010), to approximately one suicide per day from 2003 to 2015 (Chicago Project on Security and Terrorism (CPOST), (2015). The religion nexus giving credence to suicide terrorism are situated in martyrdom, politics of jihad, al-Qaida and global jihad, crisis of Islam and Salafism, as well as Sunni and Shiite conflict (Greenland, 2020;Sieck 2011;Tosini 2010a) Groups seeking political objectives most times bring in religion to boost their social support base, with 'for God and Ulster' slogan against Irish Republican Army (Jurgensmayer, 2003). The realization that political narratives might not resonate well and endure the test of time is also the reason why secular groups leverage on religious sentiments to give a veneer of meaning, purpose and morality to their suicide operations most times (Tosini, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dying with the enemy: Interrogating the roles of religion in social support for suicide terrorism

UNACHUKWU Ugochukwu Vitus

2023

World J. Adv. Res. Rev.

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Suicide terrorism seemingly employed to settled conflicts between the Shiite and the Sunnis, mixed with the Salafis ideology of violence is also seen used for demand for State of Islam, national liberation, and propagation against democracies, mis-governance, and secularism amongst others. Terror cells groups could be seen aggravating suicide terrorism by substituting suicide for martyrdom. It was against this background that this study engage religious belief hypothesis to interrogate the roles of religion in garnering social support for suicide terrorism. The study decomposes roles of religion in suicide terrorism into crises between the Shiites and the Sunnis, substitution of suicide with martyrdom. The study employed desktop research design with reliance historical and secondary data from extant literature. The study concludes that the manipulation of the religious injunctions, extremist interpretation of religious teachings, as well as advancement of religion facade for economic gains stronger motivation for people who support suicide terrorism. Finding from the study showed that there would be no successful suicide terror campaign without the support of the society where the suicide terrorists reside and whose interest they claim to be defending. The study recommends that distorted ideology driven by religion can only be countered by respected Islamic clerics and leaders, especially from the Arab world with covert Western support to circumvent the perverted narrative of martyrdom as sacrifice for the good of the land, people or God, and rather brand it as common suicide and an honourless venture.

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Section: Empirical Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dying with the enemy: Interrogating the roles of religion in social support for suicide terrorism

UNACHUKWU Ugochukwu Vitus

2023

World J. Adv. Res. Rev.

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“…Although group conflict can lead to a form of rational action (Greenland et al, 2020), the rational interpretation of text may be at odds with emotional logic. Group conflict and conformity pressures are driven by emotions.…”

Section: Perspectives From Organizational Theorymentioning

confidence: 99%

Divisiveness, splintering, and the rational interpretation of text

Joslyn

2022

Rationality and Society

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In a historical case study, this paper explores the mechanisms by which the rational interpretation of written text can produce divisiveness and splintering. The mechanisms of division are derived from theories of organizational rationality, cultural logics, organizational memory, and group conflict. The propositions are explored in an analysis of common sense rationality with a focus on the 19th century Stone-Campbell movement. When emotions are not adequately integrated into the culture of rational interpretation, group conflict can arise. The material characteristics of written text combined with a high-diffusion, low-hierarchy, highly recorded and publicized, and proactively contentious, emotionally triggering environment creates a breeding ground for division. The analysis paints a multi-dimensional picture of division and splintering from a sociomaterial standpoint.

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“…These perceived eternal rewards attract many towards carrying out suicide attacks and act as a pull factor. Greenland et. al (2020) refer to this as the infinite afterlife utility payoff, i.e.…”

Section: Young Members Of Islam Hurry and Set Out On Jihad Hurry To T...mentioning

confidence: 99%

The use of family networks in suicide terrorism: a case study of the 2018 Surabaya attacks

Dass

2021

Journal of Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism

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This article investigates the use of family networks in suicide terrorism using the 2018 Surabaya suicide attacks as a case study. The Surabaya attacks were the first case in the region that involved entire family networks including parents and their young children. The main aim of the article is to provide an understanding of the use of family networks in suicide terrorism particularly that of women and children and explore the implications that it has for the region. It is argued that there are numerous advantages of using women and children in suicide terrorism which will continue to be exploited by terrorist groups. A simplified model of motivating factors for suicide attackers is proposed and it is found that the three main motivating factors are ideology, socio-cultural factors and personal crises. The Surabaya case shows that individuals may be motivated to carry out suicide attacks primarily by a misconstrued religious ideology rather than motivations that are nationalistic in nature. The Surabaya case is not an isolated case and the use of family networks is likely to be a growing trend in future suicide attacks.

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Dying for the cause: The rationality of martyrs, suicide bombers and self-immolators

Cited by 7 publications

References 52 publications

Dying with the enemy: Interrogating the roles of religion in social support for suicide terrorism

Dying with the enemy: Interrogating the roles of religion in social support for suicide terrorism

Divisiveness, splintering, and the rational interpretation of text

The use of family networks in suicide terrorism: a case study of the 2018 Surabaya attacks

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