Origins of Terrorism: Psychologies, Ideologies, Theologies, States of Mind

Terrorists and terrorism have become a major force internationally. Hostage-taking and other acts of violence for political ends are common all over the globe. This groundbreaking study sheds new light on the phenomenon of terrorism.

This book examines and explains the nature and sources of terrorists’ beliefs, actions, goals, worldviews, and states of mind. Origins of Terrorism addresses, with scholarly responsibility as well as necessary urgency, one of the most vexing intellectual and political challenges of our time.

The contributors to this book bring deep learning and experience in realms that are vital to an understanding of the arenas within which terrorist behavior takes place-arenas such as ideology, nationalism and religion. The authors explore terrorist behavior in its troubling richness and diversity, and identify the ways in which it develops, grows and sustains itself. In addition, they study the mechanisms that enable terrorists to easily 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 in the psychology of terrorism as well as the limits of such research

This collection, under Reich’s editorship, will help us to understand terrorism as well as the motivations behind it. It is an important study that is bound to affect the way we look at world politics.

Foreword
Walter Laqueur

Preface
Walter Reich

Introduction
Walter Reich

Part I. Strategy or Psychology?: Origins of Terrorist Behavior
1. The Logic of Terrorism: Terrorist Behavior as a Product of Strategic Choice
Martha Crenshaw
2. Terrorist Psycho-logic: Terrorist Behavior 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. Mechanisms of Moral Disengagement
Albert Bandura
10. The Readiness to Kill and Die: Suicidal Terrorism 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 Behavior: The Limits and Opportunities of Psychological Inquiry
Walter Reich

“These essays contain an excellent blend of theory with specific facts and narrative accounts of dealing with terrorism. I don’t know of another book which has the sweep of this one, the illustrative detail, and the welcome, refreshing recognition that there is no neat explanation for terrorism. This book will have a major impact on future research.”—David F. Musto, Yale School of Medicine

“Pursue[s] the pathology of terrorism through the centuries.… A fascinating amount of information.”—Washington Post

“A disquieting but fascinating book.… Strongly recommended.”—British Journal of Psychiatry

“An honest and penetrating effort to explain the role of human psychology in terrorism.”—Canadian Journal of Political Science