Terrorism Midterm

extremism

The How: Holding radical beliefs that reject tolerance for others; becomes terrorism when paired with violence

The what: Belief system behind the extremism

intolerance

Rejection of opposing beliefs or identities; a core trait of terrorist ideology.

moral absolutes

The belief that one’s cause is entirely right and others are completely wrong.

Psychological Warfare

The use of fear, shock, and unpredictability to manipulate and terrorize populations.

Asymmetrical Warfare

When weaker groups attack stronger enemies using unconventional tactics.

One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter

For some terrorism is defined as resistance to occupation. Some view as terrorists as morally validated 

Secular terrorism

Terrorism motivated by political or nationalist goals, not religion.

Religious Terrorism

Violence justified by divine authority or religious interpretation.

Hate Crime vs. Terrorism

If no ideology or political motivation, then it’s hate crime. Otherwise it’s terrorism

Michael Howard (2002)

Argues that calling it a “war on terror” is misleading — terrorism isn’t a war but a persistent security problem.

Suggests treating it like organized crime or drug trafficking, aiming to contain rather than “defeat” it.

Advocates for measured, legal, and long-term responses rather than total military warfare.

Richard Betts 2006

Emphasizes terrorists rely on secrecy, conspiracy, and surprise as their main weapons.

Core of counterterrorism = intelligence and preemption — finding them collapses their advantage.

Small groups gain power through unpredictability, making intelligence more vital than brute force.

Doug Criss

Explores the blurry line between hate crimes and terrorism, noting both can create fear beyond direct victims.

Hate crimes add penalty enhancements when bias motives are proven but don’t define new crimes.

Some argue hate crimes can themselves be “terroristic”, as they instill fear in entire communities.

Audrey Kurth Cronin

Globalization spreads tech, communication, and resources that terrorists exploit faster than states adapt.

Terrorism becomes decentralized, networked, and transnational — not tied to a single country.

States and global institutions are “behind the curve”, needing cooperative, flexible counter-strategies.

Barak Mendelsohn

Post-9/11, Al-Qaeda lost central leadership but survived by decentralizing and franchising.

Shifted from spectacular U.S. attacks to embedding within local conflicts in the Middle East and Africa.

Competes with ISIS by portraying itself as more moderate, showing adaptive resilience.

krieger and mierrieks

Argue terrorism arises from political, economic, social, and global overlaps, not a single cause.

Political: weak or repressive states foster terrorism; economic: inequality and blocked opportunity fuel it.

Social & global: ethnic/religious divisions and foreign interventions spread grievances; terrorism “contagion” occurs across space and time.

Lynne O’Donnell

Shows Al-Qaeda’s resurgence under Taliban protection after U.S. withdrawal.

Finances itself through illicit industries like gold mining, sustaining operations.

Exploits power vacuums to reassert itself as a major global jihadist force.

Josef Kraus

Argues states can commit terrorism, not just non-state actors — via proxy groups or direct violence.

Iran serves as a case study: supports Hezbollah, Hamas, Shiite militias to project regional power.

“State terrorism” is politically contested, blurring lines between terrorism and foreign policy tools.

Krishnadev Calamur

Explains U.S. labeling of North Korea as a “terror sponsor” was largely political, not based on new acts.

“Terrorism” becomes a foreign-policy label — symbolic, used for pressure or signaling.

The 2017 re-designation aimed to intensify pressure over nuclear issues, not actual terrorism.

Rural to urban shift

Post–Cold War era saw rise of religiously motivated terrorism.

Force Multiplier

Media attention amplifies fear and spreads terrorist messages.

Publicity Effect

Terrorists rely on news coverage for recruitment and intimidation.

Us designated terrorist states

Iran, North Korea, Syria, Cuba

Sanctions

Punitive measures such as asset freezes, travel bans, and trade restrictions.

Proxy wars

Using allied militant groups to achieve state goals indirectly.

Structural theory

Terrorism arises from inequalities built into society’s structure.

Relative Deprivation Theory

Feeling of being deprived compared to others, leading to resentment and violence.

Routine Activity Theory

Terrorism is chosen when opportunity and reward seem high.

Radicalization

Process by which individuals adopt extremist ideologies.

Alienation

Feeling excluded or disconnected from society.

Jerrold Post

Terrorism shaped by identity, trauma, and ideology — not just politics.

Groups give belonging and purpose to alienated individuals, turning trauma into collective hatred.

Violence is normalized through cultural narratives like martyrdom and demonization; counterterrorism must address these deep psycho-cultural roots.

Peter Bergen

how many terrorists (like “Jihadi John”) come from middle-class, educated backgrounds.

Poverty ≠ terrorism — radicalization is driven by alienation, identity crisis, and anger at Western policies.

Warns against oversimplifying terrorism as poverty-driven; ideology and belonging are stronger motivators.

Francesca Trianni & Andrew Katz

Focuses on Western foreign fighters joining ISIS for identity, community, and meaning.

Recruits are often young and alienated, drawn by ISIS’s sense of purpose, adventure, and belonging.

Social media glamorized jihad and provided a virtual community that eased radicalization.

Vera Mironova

Debunks the “single terrorist profile” — ISIS members are diverse in motivation and role.

Includes ideologues, opportunists, coerced locals, and women, showing wide internal variety.

Counterterrorism must therefore address different motives — ideology, coercion, and survival — with tailored strategies.

Michael Freeman

errorist financing seen as strategic decision-making — balancing multiple funding sources.

Groups use four main sources: state sponsorship, illegal activity, legal activity, and public donations.

Each source trades off quantity, legitimacy, security, and autonomy; success depends on a diversified portfolio of funding.

Bourgeois Terrorists

Term for middle-class or educated terrorists.

State Sponsorship

Direct government support (large but controlling).

Popular Support

Donations and community backing