This chapter draws heavily on (Canter, 2006) where a fuller account of the psychology of suicide bombers is given.
Chapter 1. The Multi-Faceted Nature of Terrorism: An Introduction†
- David Canter Professor
Published Online: 17 DEC 2009
DOI: 10.1002/9780470744499.ch1
Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Book Title
The Faces of Terrorism: Multidisciplinary Perspectives
Additional Information
How to Cite
Canter, D. (2009) The Multi-Faceted Nature of Terrorism: An Introduction, in The Faces of Terrorism: Multidisciplinary Perspectives (ed D. Canter), Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford, UK. doi: 10.1002/9780470744499.ch1
Editor Information
University of Huddersfield, UK
- †
Publication History
- Published Online: 17 DEC 2009
- Published Print: 15 FEB 2010
ISBN Information
Print ISBN: 9780470753804
Online ISBN: 9780470744499
- Summary
- Chapter
- References
Keywords:
- multi-faceted nature of terrorism;
- wide-ranging nature of terrorist activity over time and place;
- Horgan's view, terrorism not an act but a process of which a person is a part;
- mental illness and suicide bombing - difficulty in fathoming;
- longevity and terrorist group number - diverse and varied;
- events as terrorist activities - diffuse, focusing on how they are identified;
- acts of violence, political strategies by groups - themselves not being established states;
- Richardson's seven-point set of criteria - what is at heart of terrorist activity, being its vagueness;
- Mohammad Sidique Khan (2005), one of 7/7 London bombers;
- brainwashing, role of religious ideology - clearing persons of previous beliefs and washing their brains
Summary
This chapter contains sections titled:
The Wide-ranging Nature of Terrorism
A Definition
Difficulties in Studying Terrorists
Explanations of Terrorism
Terrorism as Process
The Social Psychology of Terrorism
Reporting Terrorism
The Future
Countering the Psychological Precursors to Terrorism
Disengagement
References