Terrorism remains a complex phenomenon, which is aggravated by a combination of various factors and motives. Independent Islamic radical groups are a growing problem. Deep-rooted ethnic, nationalist, and religious terrorist movements continue to operate, along with the emergence of new groups that expose new causes and ideologies.
Research on terrorism has shown that the motives underlying terrorist actions can be divided into three categories: rational, psychological, and cultural. A terrorist entity can also be defined by a combination of the two.
Rational motives
A rational terrorist conducts an in-depth cost-benefit analysis of his goals and options. When planning actions, he seeks to determine which costs are the lowest and most effective ways to achieve his goals.
A terrorist evaluates the risks he is exposed to by weighing the means to protect the target from his own attack capabilities. He analyzes the ability of his employees to support him in destroying the target, taking into account the goal being pursued and the social conditions existing at the moment.
The reasoning of terrorists is similar to that of a military commander or an entrepreneur who, before a military operation or opening a business, evaluates all readiness for action.
The terrorist will analyze whether his or her action will cause enough concern to achieve his/her goals without affecting his or her cause. Misjudging a social reaction can lead to disasters. Thus, when the groups Tupamaros (Uruguay), ERP (Army of the Revolutionary People) and Montoneros (Argentina) misjudged the popular hostile reaction to terrorism and exceeded the threshold of tolerance of society, they were eliminated.
Psychological motivations
A person's motivation to commit terrorist acts stems from a psychological point of view due to dissatisfaction and lack of achievement in his personal life. He finds a reason to live by dedicating himself to terrorist acts.
Although there was no clear psychopathy among the terrorists, they are characterized by an almost universal element, namely that they are "completely loyal." The terrorists do not take into account the views from outside the group; they believe in their cause and are convinced that they will never let you down.
Terrorists tend to project their antisocial motives on others, manifesting themselves in relation to "us against everyone." This perspective leads to the dehumanization of the victims and removes any uncertainty in their minds when they act.
A common feature of all psychologically motivated terrorists is their urgent need to belong to a group. For some terrorists, their acceptance by the group is a stronger motivation than the political goals set by it. Such people determine their social status by belonging to a group.
Terrorist groups have very strong internal motives. They determine that they consider any acts of violence necessary, justifying their existence, legality, and their own consideration.
Another result of psychological motivation is the intensity of group dynamics. Terrorists unanimously demand and are intolerant of those who hold opposing views. When the enemy is clearly identified, pressure is created within the group, which increases the frequency and intensity of terrorist attacks.
The dynamics of psychological motives have also determined that the goals pursued over time will be almost impossible. A group that has achieved its goals is doomed to extinction and, therefore, as it approaches their achievement, it will seek to revise them. The Group will reject any claim to achieve goals at all levels, saying that it is false or inadequate, or will characterize it as the result of enemy duplicity. Examples in this regard can be found both in the groups Recontras in Nicaragua, ETA in Spain, and in many Palestinian factions that seem to suffer from a fear of success. Effective psychological protection against success is achieved by defining the group's goals so that they cannot be achieved.
Cultural motives
Cultures form values and motivate people to act in a way that may seem unreasonable to observers outside the relevant cultural area.
For example, Americans are reluctant to consider the very powerful effect that culture has on human behavior. They believe and accept the myth that rational behavior is the only one that coordinates human actions. If irrational behavior occurs in American culture, it is explained by all means that lead to the search for rational motivation.
The way of life in general and of each person in particular is a cultural feature that has a great impact on terrorism. In societies where each individual is identified by belonging to a particular group (family, clan, tribe), incitement to sacrifice will be rare, which can be encountered. Terrorists are a special case.: they are ready to sacrifice their lives for the sake of their business and organization. On the other hand, the lives of those outside a group that represents evil in its value system can be destroyed without any remorse.
Other factors that determine the cultural motivations of terrorists include the way in which aggression was directed and the concepts underlying society.
The most important cultural factor determining terrorism is the perception of "outsiders" and the anticipation of an existing threat to the survival of ethnic groups. The fear of possible cultural extermination leads to violence, which seems irrational to those who have not had such an experience. All people are sensitive to threats regarding the values by which they identify themselves: language, religion, society, the territory in which they live, or their place of birth. The possibility of losing any of these values provokes a defensive reaction, sometimes even hatred, towards other people or nations.
Religion can be considered the most sensitive cultural value by which a person is identified, as it contains deeply rooted values. The threat of religion poses a risk not only to the present, but also to the cultural past and the future. It is believed that many religions, including Christianity and Islam, have the right to use force to convert. Terrorism can be very violent in the name of religion, and religiously motivated terrorists consider their actions to be moral and represent divine sanction. In their concept, the actions they take are considered acts of desperation in other circumstances, representing a divine duty. This explains the spirit of sacrifice and dedication that exists among the most extremist terrorist groups. La qualité d’une plateforme de paris se mesure aussi à travers son accueil des nouveaux joueurs. Cotes compétitives et bonus attractifs font la différence. Au cœur de cette offre premium se positionne le code promo 1xbet cote d'ivoire qui apporte une valeur ajoutée importante. Saisissez-le lors de votre enregistrement pour bénéficier d’un bonus de bienvenue jusqu’à 130 €. Cette somme renforce votre bankroll dès le début.