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Discussing Concepts of Terrorist Rationality: Implications for Counter-Terrorism Policy

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  • Eric van Um

Abstract

Scholars of terrorism studies have long struggled to agree on a common understanding of what terrorism is. To date, they have agreed on little more than the fact that terrorism is difficult to define. As a consequence, more than 100, if not more than 200 modern definitions of terrorism have been formulated. Within those definitions, different aspects of terrorism are stressed including the underlying motivations, applied tactics and chosen targets. While no consensus has been found on how to define terrorism or terrorists, a meta-study by Schmid and Jongman (1988) provides fruitful insight into the most relevant aspects of definitions of terrorism which have proven valid to the present day. The two researchers analyzed various academic and official definitions of terrorism and identified three main elements as being vital to define terrorism; (1) the use (or threat) of violence1, (2) political objectives and (3) the intention of sowing fear in a target population as a means of achieving these political objectives.

Suggested Citation

  • Eric van Um, 2009. "Discussing Concepts of Terrorist Rationality: Implications for Counter-Terrorism Policy," Economics of Security Working Paper Series 22, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:diw:diweos:diweos22
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    1. Jörgen W. Weibull, 2004. "Testing Game Theory," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Steffen Huck (ed.), Advances in Understanding Strategic Behaviour, chapter 6, pages 85-104, Palgrave Macmillan.
    2. Karen Pittel & Dirk Rübbelke, 2011. "Characteristics of Terrorism," Chapters, in: Derek L. Braddon & Keith Hartley (ed.), Handbook on the Economics of Conflict, chapter 7, Edward Elgar Publishing.
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    4. Mayntz, Renate, 2004. "Organizational Forms of Terrorism: Hierarchy, Network, or a Type sui generis?," MPIfG Discussion Paper 04/4, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies.
    5. Bryan Caplan, 2006. "Terrorism: The relevance of the rational choice model," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 128(1), pages 91-107, July.
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    7. Jon Hovi & Detlef F. Sprinz & Arild Underdal, 2003. "The Oslo-Potsdam Solution to Measuring Regime Effectiveness: Critique, Response, and the Road Ahead," Global Environmental Politics, MIT Press, vol. 3(3), pages 74-96, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Michael Brzoska & Raphael Bossong & Eric van Um, 2011. "Security Economics in the European Context: Implications of the EUSECON Project," Economics of Security Working Paper Series 58, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.

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