Showing papers in "Behavioral Sciences of Terrorism and Political Aggression in 2019"
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explore the link between radicalization patterns and modes of attack planning and preparation among lone-actor terrorists and find that specific patterns of radicalization are linked to systematic differences in modes of terrorist attack planning, including target and weapon choice, observance of operational security measures, likeliness of engaging in leakage behavior, and overall amount of time devoted to these activities.
Abstract: This article explores the link between radicalization patterns and modes of attack planning and preparation among lone-actor terrorists. Building on theorized patterns of lone-actor radicalization, we discuss and compare their modes of pre-attack behavior, including target and weapon choice, observance of operational security measures, likeliness of engaging in leakage behavior, and the overall amount of time devoted to these activities. This exploratory study builds upon a dataset of thirty-three lone-actor terrorist cases in North-America and Europe between 1986 and 2015. The analysis suggests that specific patterns of radicalization are linked to systematic differences in modes of attack planning and preparation. The results provide insights into the heterogeneity of terrorist involvement and tentatively suggest the potential importance for law-enforcement agencies in using case-specific knowledge on radicalization patterns to inform forecasts of likely pre-attack behaviors.
32 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the challenges local youth workers face at the intersection of providing social care and detecting violent extremism are explored, where extremist and other radical ideologies are often assumed and assumed.
Abstract: This article explores the challenges local youth workers face at the intersection of providing social care and detecting violent extremism. Extremism and other radical ideologies are often assumed ...
30 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the effect of ostracism on terrorism and found that it has the power to promote a terroristic mindset in the terrorists' biographical data.
Abstract: Biographical data of terrorists and overlapping theories indicate that ostracism has the power to promote a terroristic mindset. This effect, however, has not been investigated empirically so far. ...
28 citations
TL;DR: This paper proposed a framework for applying narrative approaches to terrorist authored texts, in particular, autobiographies, to understand how individuals involved in militancy understand the world, draw upon existing narrative resources and give meaning to their actions.
Abstract: Narrative has recently garnered in much attention in the study of terrorism but remains poorly understood. This paper offers some initial steps towards translating the promise of narrative approaches into a set of steps for systematically analysing and understanding terrorists’ own accounts of their engagement with extremism and militancy. This approach rests on the assumption that terrorist authored accounts are more than post-hoc rhetorical exercises that aim to persuade others, or even the authors themselves, of the righteousness of their political cause or otherwise mitigate their responsibility for their involvement in violence. In particular, I advance a framework for methodically applying narrative approaches to terrorist authored texts, in particular, autobiographies. In doing so, I will demonstrate how this approach can help better comprehend how individuals involved in militancy understand the world, draw upon existing narrative resources and give meaning to their actions.
19 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors discuss the role of counter-terrorism (CT) operations in domestic surveillance, intelligence gathering, reconnaissance, surveillance, or direct action (e.g., arrest) to disrupt terrorist activities, and can take place in domestic se...
Abstract: Counter-terrorism (CT) operations may involve intelligence-gathering, reconnaissance, surveillance, or direct action (e.g. arrest) to disrupt terrorist activities, and can take place in domestic se...
16 citations
TL;DR: Most groups do less violence than they are capable of as mentioned in this paper. Yet while there is now an extensive literature on the escalation of or radicalisation towards violence, particularly by ‘extremist’ groups or...
Abstract: Most groups do less violence than they are capable of. Yet while there is now an extensive literature on the escalation of or radicalisation towards violence, particularly by ‘extremist’ groups or ...
11 citations
TL;DR: The Lake Chad region, which is an intersection of four countries, namely Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria, has been a major battleground of violence and terrorism as mentioned in this paper, and poverty is prevalent in the region.
Abstract: The Lake Chad region, which is an intersection of four countries, namely Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria, has been a major battleground of violence and terrorism. Poverty is prevalent in...
10 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors argue that at this historical juncture in Singapore's history, with politicized and often violent interpretations of Islam very much in the news worldwide, a more explicit and similarly unapologetic articulation of what may be called a “reconciled” Singaporean Muslim Identity is needed.
Abstract: This paper makes three main arguments: first, religious extremism is best understood in context. This stance is adopted in diagnosing the specific case of Islamic extremism in the globalized, multi-religious city-state of Singapore, which, having departed from Malaysia only 54 years ago, is still a relatively young polity. Second, the paper argues that to identify and cope with Islamic extremism, the Singapore State should be more explicit and firm in its articulation of what the current author calls a “Muscular Secularism” policy. Third, the paper argues that at this historical juncture in Singapore’s history – with politicized and often violent interpretations of Islam very much in the news worldwide – a more explicit and similarly unapologetic articulation of what may be called a “reconciled” Singaporean Muslim Identity is needed. Forging such an identity though is an understandably sensitive issue that must be left to the Singaporean Muslim community and its leaders. The challenge is to fashio...
8 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the political and economic impact that pirates and terrorists inflict on our societe cation and concluded that non-state actors are an international security concern.
Abstract: Non-state actors (i.e. pirates and terrorists) are an international security concern. Prior studies have examined the political and economic impact that pirates and terrorists inflict on our societ...
7 citations
TL;DR: In this article, it was shown that an increase in the number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) will increase terrorist attacks, however, the nuances of this relationship are unknown.
Abstract: Research suggests that an increase in the number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) will increase terrorist attacks. However, the nuances of this relationship are unknown. This study seeks to...
5 citations
TL;DR: In a hectic consolidation phase plagued by security, economic and social challenges, Tunisia has stood out as the biggest sender of foreign terrorist fighters to the so-called Islamic State as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: In a hectic consolidation phase plagued by security, economic and social challenges, Tunisia has stood out as the biggest sender of foreign terrorist fighters to the so-called Islamic State. How do...
TL;DR: Gathering works authored by a mix of practitioners and scholars working on China's approach to terrorism, the authors provides an extraordinary account of the real and perceived terrorist threat that exists in China.
Abstract: Gathering works authored by a mix of practitioners and scholars working on China’s approach to terrorism, this book provides an extraordinary account of the real and perceived terrorist threat that...
TL;DR: The focus of terrorist events on urban centers and mass gathering sites and the intensity in which they have occurred in recent times has greatly enhanced the need to ensure that terrorism risk is... as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: The focus of terrorist events on urban centers and mass gathering sites and the intensity in which they have occurred in recent times has greatly enhanced the need to ensure that terrorism risk is ...
TL;DR: In an era when feminism has become a loaded word in everyday life, it is sometimes easy to overlook that gender inequalities and the cultural norms they are embedded in still play an important role as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: In an era when feminism has become a loaded word in everyday life, it is sometimes easy to overlook that gender inequalities and the cultural norms they are embedded in still play an important role...
TL;DR: After a hostage has been kidnapped and moved to an unknown location, ideologically motivated hostage takers often provide a video demonstrating proof of capture and proof of life as discussed by the authors, which they call "proof of life".
Abstract: After a hostage has been kidnapped and moved to an unknown location, ideologically motivated hostage takers often provide a video demonstrating proof of capture and proof of life. Proof of life vid...
TL;DR: The rise in lone actor terrorism and its public and political prominence in recent years is reflected in the huge academic interest in the subject, strongly overlapping with efforts to understand t....
Abstract: The rise in lone actor terrorism and its public and political prominence in recent years is reflected in the huge academic interest in the subject, strongly overlapping with efforts to understand t...