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Ties That Do Not Bind (Directly): The Education-Terrorism Nexus Revisited

Author

Listed:
  • Sarah Brockhoff

    (University of Freiburg)

  • Tim Krieger

    (University of Mainz)

  • Daniel Meierrieks

    (University of Paderborn)

Abstract

This contribution offers a comprehensive empirical analysis of the effects of education on terrorism for 118 countries for the period 1984 to 2007. We find that education and terrorism are not directly linked, so that education neither fosters nor retards terrorism on its own. Rather, our results suggest that education may fuel terrorist activity in the presence of poor political and socio-economic conditions, whereas bet- ter education in combination with favorable conditions decreases terrorism. Thus, the precise effect of education on terrorism depends on country-specific conditions. A successful anti-terrorism strategy should therefore focus on a country's political and socio-economic development, in addition to educational attainment.

Suggested Citation

  • Sarah Brockhoff & Tim Krieger & Daniel Meierrieks, 2010. "Ties That Do Not Bind (Directly): The Education-Terrorism Nexus Revisited," Working Papers CIE 26, Paderborn University, CIE Center for International Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:pdn:ciepap:26
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Cited by:

    1. Tim Krieger, 2011. "9/11's Legacy: How Abstract Fear and Collective Memory Lead to Real Economic Costs," Working Papers CIE 45, Paderborn University, CIE Center for International Economics.
    2. Muhammad Tahir, 2020. "Terrorism and its Determinants: Panel Data Evidence from 94 Countries," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 15(1), pages 1-16, March.
    3. Marlies Sas & Koen Ponnet & Genserik Reniers & Wim Hardyns, 2020. "The Role of Education in the Prevention of Radicalization and Violent Extremism in Developing Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-12, March.
    4. Tim Krieger & Daniel Meierrieks, 2011. "Terrorist Financing and Money Laundering," Working Papers CIE 40, Paderborn University, CIE Center for International Economics.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    education; terrorism; counter-terrorism; development strategies; condi- tional effects;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H56 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - National Security and War
    • D74 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances; Revolutions
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • H52 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Education
    • I2 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education
    • N40 - Economic History - - Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation - - - General, International, or Comparative

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