Origins, of Terrorism

by Reich, Walter

• ISBN13: 9780521385893
• ISBN10: 052138589X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1990-08-01
• Publisher: Cambridge Univ Pr

Summary

This book breaks new ground in examining and explaining the nature and sources of terrorists’ beliefs and actions. Earlier attempts to explain the psychology of terrorism have tended to ignore the phenomenon’s diversity. Too often, they have focussed on one particular terrorist group or individual or on one simple psychological theory. The contributors to this book explore terrorist behaviour in all its troubling richness and diversity, and identify the ways in which it develops, grows and sustains itself. Looking at the areas of ideology, nationalism and religion, they study the mechanisms that enable terrorists to carry out violent acts against innocents, as well as the ways in which leaders of governments respond to terrorist actions and threats. Finally, they identify the opportunities for future research on the psychology of terrorism as well as the limits of such research.

Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction

Part I. Strategy or Psychology? Origins of Terrorist Behaviour: 1. The logic of terrorism: terrorist behaviour as a product of strategic choice Martha Crenshaw

2. Terrorist psycho-logic: terrorist behaviour as a product of psychological forces Jerrold M. Post

Part II. Varieties of Terrorism: Ideological and Religious Motivations: 3. Ideology and rebellion: terrorism in West Germany Konrad Kellen

4. Ideology and repentance: terrorism in Italy Franco Ferracuti

5. The psychopolitical formation of extreme left terrorism in a democracy: the case of the weathermen Ehud Sprinzak

6. Terrorism in democracies: its social and political bases Ted Robert Gurr

7. Sacred terror: a contemporary example from Islam David C. Rapoport

8. The moral logic of Hizballah Martin Kramer

Part III. States of Mind: How Do Terrorists Think? Which Psychological Mechanisms Enable Them To Do What They Do?: 9. Mechanism of moral disengagement Albert Bandura

10. The readiness to kill and die: suicidal terrorism and indiscriminate violence in the Middle East Ariel Merari

Part IV. Responding To Terrorism: Decision-making and the Pressures on Leadership: 11. Hostage taking, the presidency, and stress Margaret G. Hermann and Charles F. Hermann

12. Taking vows: the domestication of policy-making in hostage incidents Gary Sick

Part V. The Psychology of Terrorism: What Can We Know, What Must We Learn?: 13. Questions to be answered, research to be done, knowledge to be applied Martha Crenshaw

14. Understanding terrorist behaviour: the limits and opportunities of psychological inquiry Walter Reich.