Chapter 2

Babette Protz

University of South

Carolina Lancaster

THE SOCIAL UNDERPINNINGS OF

TERRORISM

Outline differing approaches for understanding social reality.

Define the elements of netwar. Describe terrorism as a religious process. Define practical criminology as used by security

forces. Describe the differences between terrorist and

criminal behavior.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: CHAPTER 2

2

Explain the reason terrorists and counter terrorists need to justify violence.

Summarize studies of the ways terrorist violence is justified.

Describe three views in the profiling debate. Outline differing points of view about radicalization

and alienation.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: CHAPTER 2

3

The social process is influenced by individual psychological interpretations of group members.

Individuals take actions within associations Applying an individualized understanding of reality Reacting to environmental stimuli and motivators

TERRORISM AS A SOCIAL PROCESS

4

Theories about terrorism in the meaning framework focus on: The interpretation individuals and groups give to the

actions of others The circumstances in which the subjects define their roles

MEANING FRAMEWORK

5

Violent religious movements and the organizational structures they create are rooted in the ways certain groups of people view reality

MEANING FRAMEWORK

6

Another social science tradition seeks to avoid subjective meanings when examining events. Human societies create organizations to accomplish

certain required functions.

Approaches to understand terrorist behavior by looking at the way organizations function – structural framework.

STRUCTURAL FRAMEWORK

7

Organizations develop according to the needs of a society or a group of people Such organizations take predictable actions,

and serve predictable functions

STRUCTURAL FRAMEWORK

8

All groups, including terrorist organizations, take action because they belong to a structure that operates for a specific purpose – social geometry

Terrorism develops when a group with inferior power moves against a superior group- usually results in mass civilian casualties

STRUCTURAL FRAMEWORK

9

There are other structural approaches to terrorism that believe terrorists are united through networks

Terrorist organizations are structured in the same manner as communication and transportation systems

STRUCTURAL APPROACHES | NETWAR

10

The traffic pattern on the highway is like a network – the crucial intersections, merge ramps, and expanded traffic lanes are nodes. If vehicles begin clogging at a node, traffic slows or comes

to a standstill at many points in the network. Disrupting terrorist networks has the same effect on terrorist

operations.

STRUCTURAL APPROACHES | NETWAR

11

Any point where information, weapons, or personnel are gathered or exchanged is called a node The node is the critical target for counterterrorist

operations If the node is destroyed, the network is disrupted

STRUCTURAL APPROACHES | NETWAR

12

Two primary factors account for the continued influence of religion: First, religion has always been an important influence in

the history of humanity. Second, modernization tends to break down

communities, families, and social orientation.

ANTHROPOLOGICAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL APPROACHES

13

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpKSTzziVTY

Discussion: What is your view regarding the connection between

religion and terrorism? Support your view. It was stated that the cause of violence is not religion

itself, but manipulation of religion; others say violence is caused by religious teachings of intolerance. Which do you believe, or do you believe it to be a combination. Support your view.

RELIGIONS, POWER AND VIOLENCE

14

Strong religious beliefs increase: The likelihood of religious conflict. The intensity of fighting.

Violence results when sacred traditions are threatened.

TERRORISM AS A RELIGIOUS PROCESS

15

Eschatology plays a major role: Messianic warriors in the end-time correct the heresies

of the past and fight for the ideal divine order of a deity.

Empirical findings demonstrate that terrorism is partially a religious process.

TERRORISM AS A RELIGIOUS PROCESS

16

Religion helps to produce the “lone-wolf avenger” : A person who has a particular ideology but isn’t part of a

group

An individual lone-wolf avenger needs to find some type of justification for his or her actions, and religion provides the perfect path

LONE WOLF

17

Lone-wolf avengers have a special, narcissistic relationship with their deities. They create a god in their own image. They become the ultimate loners – they are the most

difficult type of terrorist to deter or detain.

LONE WOLF

18

Despite utilization of sacred stories and cosmic mythologies, there is a very limited official religious basis for terrorism

Religious terrorists are lethal – religious terrorist groups killed more people with fewer attacks than secular terrorists.

Religious terrorists are deadlier than their secular counterparts.

TERRORISM AS A RELIGIOUS PROCESS

19

People use stories to explain deep truths beyond the immediate world Terrorist groups build their own mythologies to justify

their actions through a story.

Stories change the nature of terrorist organizations – they help to produce different group organizations and styles.

TERRORISM AS A RELIGIOUS PROCESS

20

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rh34Xsq7D_A&feature=player_embedded#!

Discussion: This presentation is a debate on the Islamic religion. The

motion of this debate is: Islam is a religion of peace. As did the audience in the clip, you will vote pre- and post-

debate. Pre-debate: On a slip of paper write Yes if you agree; No if you do

not agree; or Undecided. Hand in your votes. Post-debate: Using the same method, vote again.

What is the overall consensus of the class? Was there a measurable change in views?

IS ISLAM A RELIGION OF PEACE?

21

Criminology as applied to terrorism looks at prevention and apprehension

Terrorists commit crimes as they struggle for a cause; they sets them apart from ordinary street criminals

As first responders, law enforcement personnel must recognize the differences between typical criminal behavior and terrorist activity

CRIMINOLOGY

22

Terrorists1. Focus their actions toward a

goal

2. Are dedicated to a cause3. Rarely cooperate with officials

because they do not wish to betray their cause

4. Tend to attack5. Strike against targets after careful

planning6. Prepare for and rehearse their

operations

Criminals

1. Are unfocused2. Are not devoted to crime as a

philosophy3. Will make deals to avoid

punishment4. Usually run when confronted

with force5. Strike when the opportunity to

do so is present6. Rarely train for crime

PRACTICAL BEHAVIORAL DIFFERENCES

23

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7-klWyj7gA&feature=player_embedded

Discussion Questions: What distinctions does the analyst make between organized

crime and terrorism? Do you agree with her distinctions? Support your response.

Are there other distinctions she did not include? The analyst states that the Mexican Cartel has not yet reached

the level of what is considered terrorist activity. Do you agree or disagree with her statement? Support your position.

ORGANIZED CRIME VERSUS TERRORIST

24

Allows the FBI to coordinate law enforcement resources in the face of domestic terrorism and to expand investigations. Focus on ideology, group, and individual behaviors Information sharing over broad geographical

JOINT TERRORISM TASK FORCES (JTTFS)

25

Deadly force demands the greatest amount of justification

Terrorists have the same need for social approval, but they rarely obtain it because their actions are not sanctioned by the governments they attack Terrorists must look outside normative social channels to

gain approval for their acts

JUSTIFYING TERRORISM

26

Borum: no standard rationale for justifying behavior.

Victoroff: multiplicity of factors used to justify violence.

Post: us against them mentality. The rejection of external authority results in the

acceptance of internal authority

JUSTIFYING TERRORISM

27

In order for social acceptance to be gained, the terrorist group must be isolated from mainstream society.

Processes used by American criminal gangs and Arab suicide bombers are the same.

JUSTIFYING TERRORISM

28

Staub and McCauley believe that certain types of people are drawn toward terrorist groups.

McCauley sees four types of personalities: Revolutionaries drawn to a cause People who wander among terrorist groups, People who have a sudden conversion experience People who are attracted by peers

PROFILING THE TERRORIST PERSONALITY

29

Given the nature of the terrorist, profiling terrorists has sparked heated debate.

Researchers argue that the differences in backgrounds and ethnicities prohibit accurate profiles.

Can an accurate profile be made, in your opinion?

PROFILING THE TERRORIST PERSONALITY

30

Horgan believes researchers should search for the “routes to terrorism.”

Horgan is concerned with: The psychological processes that lead people to terrorist

groups. The issues that keep them in the group. The support for people who want to leave.

PATH AND ROUTES

31

As with other areas of terrorism, the areas of radicalization and alienation are fraught with differing views and suggestions for research.

Researchers will obtain more fruitful results by examining militant ideology and finding the concepts that are shown to attract followers.

RADICALIZATION & ALIENATION

32

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCOp7nTTW1U

Discussion: It was presented that data analysis and social network

analysis can be effective tools in the prevention of terrorism. Does this align with your thoughts on homegrown radicalization? Explain your view.

HOMEGROWN RADICALIZATION

33

A number of researchers believe members of terrorist groups go through decision-making processes as they are being radicalized The general knowledge of radicalization is incomplete

RESEARCH IN GROUP PROCESSES

34

Radicalization is a six-step framework. Alienated young man Meets other alienated young men and form bond Groups gravitate toward religion Religion interpreted in militant terms Militant group meets terrorist contact Militants join terrorists as a group decision

SAGEMAN’S MODEL

35

Recent reports suggest that groups are being radicalized in prison.

A leader often targets selected prisoners or dominate new inmates using intimidation to force intimidating them until they join the group. Mark Hamm maintains recruitment is similar to

procedures used by street gangs.

GROUPS IN PRISON

36

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVh5amMncD0

Discussion: What is your view on the radicalization of prisoners to

Islam? Support your view. Is this an area that requires attention by the prison

system, Homeland Security, or as a joint effort.

RADICALIZATION IN PRISON

37

Evidence suggests radicalization is not always a group process At the least – it involves individual reflection whether a

group plays a role or not.

Research indicates individual psychological and sociological factors create the framework for interpreting reality.

INDIVIDUAL RADICALIZATION

38

Individual cases in the U.S.: Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab

Destroy a Northwest airliner as it entered American airspace. James W. von Brunn

Shooting in the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.

Omar Hammami – Muslim father and Christian mother – identity conflict His identity conflict ended when he embraced a violent, intolerant

form of Islam to become a commander in Al Shabaab.

CASES OF RADICALIZATION

39

Using previous three individuals – several common forms of behavior. First all three men all came from well-to-do, middle-class

environments. The New York Times reports that most international attacks against

the U.S. in the 21st Century have come from well-educated terrorists from the middle class.

Second, all three men became deeply angered and filled with moral indignation. Alienated from mainstream thought as they expressed anger, and

they sought to address their situations by doing something meaningful.

Lastly, there was some type of event that triggered their final decision to take violent action.

COMMONALITIES IN RADICALIZATION

40

Several common forms of behavior. (cont)

Second, all three men became deeply angered and filled with moral indignation. Alienated from mainstream thought as they expressed anger, and

they sought to address their situations by doing something meaningful.

Lastly, there was some type of event that triggered their final decision to take violent action.

COMMONALITIES IN RADICALIZATION

41

The idea that research in radicalization and alienation will produce valuable knowledge is debated. No general consensus about the definition of

radicalization. Term is utilized in a variety of different contexts.

Suggested that more beneficial results would be gained through the examination of militant ideology and concepts that attract followers.

RESEARCH CRITICIZED

42

Terrorism is a social process that can be studied with the same methods used by social scientists. One method is to search for meanings behind actions. The second method used to analyze terrorism is to look for

structures.

Social geometry shows movement within structures. The netwar metaphor represents a practical application of this

technique.

Researchers who believe that modern terrorism has been changed by religion look for meanings that drive actions.

CHAPTER TAKE-AWAYS

43

Security forces search for practical behavior clues that can be used against terrorists.

Researchers search for the ways in which terrorist behavior differs from normal criminals. They seek an understanding of the ways terrorists justify

violence.

Some researchers have tried to model terrorism by profiling terrorists or looking for models of radicalization and alienation.

CHAPTER TAKE-AWAYS

44