Toward a Theory of Terrorism: Human Security as a Determinant of Terrorism

Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism: Situating al-Qaeda and the Global War on Terror within Geopolitical Trends and Structures

“…Our findings resonate with this literature, or at least condition the expectations to some degree by suggesting that the kind of injustice and frustration assumed to inspire acts of terrorism at an individual level may be somehow felt more strongly by citizens of states in the middle of the developmental pack. Additionally, our findings parallel those by Callaway and Harrelson-Stephens (2006). The authors anticipate the inverted U-shape demonstrated here when they state that "citizens at both extremes of subsistence are less likely to engage in terrorist activity."…”

“…The authors anticipate the inverted U-shape demonstrated here when they state that "citizens at both extremes of subsistence are less likely to engage in terrorist activity." However, as Callaway and Harrelson-Stephens (2006) acknowledged, a clearer theoretical narrative that could account for this pattern at the scale of the state has yet to emerge. More plainly, the theory of relative deprivation may suggest a generic rationale for anti-state terroristic violence, but it does not expressly suggest where and when one should expect to find such terrorism, especially at the scale of the state.…”

“Kill Them All—Old and Young, Girls and Women and Little Children”: An Examination of the Organizational Choice of Targeting Civilians

“…Finally, whether focused on general uses of violence (Zimmermann 1987;Gurr 1998;Gurr 2000;Regan and Norton 2005;Callaway and Harrelson-Stephens 2006) or the targeting of civilians (Crenshaw 1981;Byman 1998;Feldmann and Perala 2004;Lia and Skjolberg 2004a;Piazza 2006), there is a great deal of theoretical and empirical support for the argument that state repression, or external pressure, makes it more likely that organizations or groups will choose violent options, particularly if the state repression is specifically targeted at the organization. Targeting by the state creates a grievance that results in a justified cause for action against the state or against wards of the state (civilians).…”

Terrorism, Identity, and Conflict Management

“…In this approach, terrorist groups try to provoke harsh government reprisals against the terrorists’ constituents in order to mobilize popular support for their group. For example, it has been argued that the IRA campaigns helped to achieve Irish independence because they provoked repression that pushed the broad community into alignment with the terrorists (Callaway & Harrelson‐Stephens, 2006). A similar argument, in which successful revolution was fostered by harsh reprisals against terrorists’ constituents, has been put forward regarding the ANC in South Africa.…”

“…A similar argument, in which successful revolution was fostered by harsh reprisals against terrorists’ constituents, has been put forward regarding the ANC in South Africa. Some researchers even insist that widespread terrorism is always instigated by state terror, which both motivates and legitimizes dissidents’ violence (e.g., Callaway & Harrelson‐Stephens, 2006: p. 791; see also McSherry, 2005).…”