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

Rating:
Summary: An excellent introduction into the world of terrorism!
Review: An important work for those familiar with the broad topic of political terrorism. The introductory essays by Crenshaw and Post delineate two different approaches to the study and comprehension of terrorism, with an eye toward its psychological aspects. Crenshaw summarizes the political and sociological approaches to complement the psychological dimension. The essays that apply these approaches unintentionally fall into the category of social psychological analyses of terrorist movements. Thus they reinforce the complexity of explanatory analyses and the interdependence of the social forces at work. Kellen's German study, Ferracuti's Italian essay, Sprinzak's Weatherman, Gurr's US contributions, and Rapoport and Kramer's Islam foci, all confirm the social psychological perspectives of political terrorism, despite their intended efforts to focus on the psychological dimension. In the next four essays by Bandura, Merari, the Herrmanns, and Sick the book approaches its original intent. In the concluding section Crenshaw and Post both acknowledge the inherent difficulties and questions of the psychological approach. The contributors represent many of the findings they already developed in earlier research and writings.

Rating:
Summary: Oversimplified and Biased
Review: This book attempts to account for the root causes of terrorism. However it fails to provide a meticulous analysis of the origins of terrorism. For example, consider the author's analysis of islamic fanaticism. According to Reich, muslim terrorists, driven by an ardent religious conviction, target western modernism as they despise the Western way of life. In support of his assertion, Reich uses quotes from the Quaran which have been taken out of their proper context. Anyone even vaguely familiar with Islam knows that Islam teaches piety, tolerance, empathy and equality before God (please check the Quaran for corroboration of this). Moreover murder is justifiable only in self-defense. Subsequently, claiming that Islamic fundamentalism emerged as a result of an extreme interpretation of the Quaran is preposterous. The author further asserts that Hezbollah uses religion as a justification for its abhorrent atrocities. Trying to explain the underlying motives of Hezbollah's ideology without even taking into account the 22-years long Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon is indicative of poor scholaship and gross oversimplification. In my view it was the Israeli invasion of Lebanon which triggered the emergence of these resistance groups. The real causes of terrorism are Western imperialism, gross economic inequalities, oppression, abject poverty, Western exploitation of the Middle East's enormous oil fields, imposition of Western values and US capitalism, US constant interventions and support for oppressive governments like Saudi-Arabia, Israel etc. These are the root causes and unless we acknowledge them it will be extremely difficult to obliterate terrorism. It is like treating a patient but having a wrong diagnosis. Another disadvantage of this book is the fact that it almost exclusively focuses on Islamic fundamentalism; no account of Jewish and Christian terrorism is given. This seriously undermines the book's purpose and makes it biased. This book does however provide a thorough account of psychological factors which contribute to the rise of terrorism but these are merely of secondary importance. Interesting read but lacks a detailed analysis.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent introduction into the world of terrorism!
Review: This book presents to its readers a clear foundation of the factors that lie behind the use of violence by groups, states, and/or individuals to gain their objectives.

The two primary articles in the book by Martha Crenshaw and Jerrold Post present two opposing views of the logic that lies behind political violent activity ("terrorists" activity). The case studies in the rest of the book support these two primary articles.

Any researcher in the field of political violence studies must have this book in their library.

Rating:
Summary: About a year too soon
Review: This informative book covers all aspects of terrorism - the warped psyches driving the murderous events, historical setting, goals, leaders and particularly the religious, ethnic and ideological forces behind terrorism. While 99.99% of all world terrorism has its roots in the Middle East, it has become a worldwide phenomenon.

Even more important than the barbarous acts, though, is the development of a framework within which one both justifies and excuses terrorism. Never before has the claim been made that it is morally permissible to kill innocent men, women and children for any reason. Never before have there been so many willing not only to forgive but also to forget these deeds done in the name of an esoteric idea.

Perhaps the most important development, and one discussed in detail, is the merging of Islamic fundamentalism and the Left throughout the world. In a sense it was inevitable: Both are virulently anti-Western, both advocate violence and both support
- and get support from - totalitarian regimes. Mainly due to the identification with the USSR and its support for Arab causes, the Left has moved steadily into an anti-Israeli/Jewish pro-Arab/Palestinian stand. One can trace both the physical evolution of Palestinian terror groups (unorganized local groups to world network) and ideological evolution (from local issues to global terrorist concerns). This is most evident in Europe, especially France and Germany. The two share a dubious honor: France is the intellectual home of modern anti-Semitism and Germany is where the logical fruition of these "ideas" was practiced.

Another danger of terrorism is that of disproportion. The number of people required for maximum damage has been steadily dwindling - from mass armies, to small units, to spies to ordinary individuals. Terrorism thrives because of this disproportionate power. This is a disturbing yet satisfying read and the author is to be commended for excellent research.