Chapter 9 (Suicide Terrorism)

Question 1

Method Selection (possible methods)

Answer 1

assassination, kidnapping, aerial hijacking, bombing, suicide terrorism

Question 2

Assassination

Answer 2

murder by sudden or secret attack, often for political reasons; very specific target; high level of difficulty

Question 3

Kidnapping

Answer 3

abducting someone for money or political reasons; requires intricate planning

Question 4

Aerial Hijacking

Answer 4

force pilots to land in sympathetic or weak state; more leverage for negotiations (ex. Munich massacre of 1972 - Israelis killed by Palestinians)

Question 5

Bombing

Answer 5

a preferred method of terror; explosives; readily available, easy to teach, separates attacker from victims

Question 6

Suicide Terrorism

Answer 6

attacker expects death going into the attack; primary target is not just immediate victims, but the larger opponent

Question 7

Developments (suicide terrorism)

Answer 7

1. diffusion (tactic spread to major groups, not just terrorist organizations, then academics became obsessed and it became popular); 2. impact (frequency increased mid-1990s, peaked early 2000s, severity also increased); 3. perception (pop culture, formulated presentation of crazed psychopath or religious fanatic)

Question 8

Terminology (suicide terror)

Answer 8

1. martyrdom (it’s an act of honorable sacrifice for a noble cause or belief); 2. suicide mission (destigmatizes the act; death is a probable side effect, but not necessarily intended)

Question 9

Instrumental Approach (suicide terror) (do it because it works)

Answer 9

1. tactical efficiency (it’s easy, it works); 2. perceived benefits (i.e., take care of family, relief in afterlife, etc.)

Question 10

Organizational Approach (suicide terror) (responding to the environment)

Answer 10

1. competition (efficiency helps with recruitment and marketing; helps them grow); 2. cooperation (groups directly or indirectly copy each other)

Question 11

Ideological Approach (suicide terror) (bigger than individual)

Answer 11

1. justification (reframing - personal cost worth group gain); 2. collectivism (for the good of the team)

Question 12

Psychological Approach (suicide terror)

Answer 12

1. self-aggrandizement (increase your own importance; quest for significance); 2. social context (requires strong feelings that there is no way out)

Question 13

Structural Approach (suicide terror) (a product of the situation and institutions)

Answer 13

1. social status (the need to fit in with larger society); 2. political system (non-democracies - fewer resources and suicide attacks are easy; democracies - more associations, more freedoms mean more competition between groups, especially ideological)

Question 14

Policy options (suicide terror)

Answer 14

1. political opportunities (give more political opportunity in non-democracies, where attackers are more likely to come from); 2. target fortification (secure possible targets); 3. delegitimization (stigmatize terrorists; take the honor out of the sacrifice)