Research reveals a number of possible existential motivations for engaging in terrorism. Are these research findings important for understanding international terrorism, or are they unreliable?
When aligning with the positivist school of criminology, which considers internal or external influences on individuals as the primary cause of criminal behavior, it would be short-sighted to ignore the existential factors that motivate international terrorists.
Existential motivations
Cottee & Hayward explore three existential motivations for engaging in terrorism, namely the desire for excitement, the desire for ultimate meaning, and the desire for glory.
The authors also describe the goal of terrorism as two-fold: pursuing the political goals of small groups and exploring the site of individual self-drama and self-reinvention.
Researching existential motivation demands a qualitative approach to research, which is used to find meanings, feelings, and underlying opinions, therefore playing an essential role in understanding why individuals engage in international terrorism.
Cottee & Hayward did a convincing job to shed light on the motivations for engaging in international terrorism and how to manage the threat by exploring how terrorist agents feel and the emotional complexity of terrorism. However, other efforts are necessary for a more holistic understanding of the phenomenon.
Social network Theory
Bruinsma & Bernasco discuss the social network theory in line with other transnational crimes, describing social collaboration and organization in light of financial and legal risks. International terrorism suggests that the rewards are more “existential,” which introduces difficulty in applying the social network theory (which is focused on social organizations surrounding financial and legal risks).
Even so, international terrorist groups seem to consist of close-knit, cohesive, and ethically homogenous groups of people with shared spiritual or political beliefs, likening them to Bruinsma & Bernasco’s description of smuggling and large-scale heroin trading groups.
rational choice theory
Perry & Hasisi move away from the positivist school of criminology and discuss rational choice theory to review the religious, personal, and social incentives demonstrated by those who kill themselves in suicide attacks.
They argue that suicide bombers (in particular) are driven by the anticipation of costs and benefits, and they are committed to maximizing self-gratifying, beneficial behavior.
connecting the dots
Reviewing both theories closely, it’s possible to draw parallels between positivist and classical approaches and determine the overlaps in religious motivation and the desire to elevate the self. Both require a focus on mentality and empirical research, which ‘reads between the lines’ of quantitative research to understand social phenomena better.
Outside of the terrorist agent, modern developments also play a significant role in the increase in international terrorism, such as improved communication technologies, deregulated financial markets, and increased flow of people and products across borders.
All of these external factors should be considered in conjunction with internal and existential factors to gain a better understanding of the rise of international terrorism. As a unique transnational crime that includes a strong political agenda instead of a financial one, international terrorism demands a closer look at the existential motives, making Cottee & Hayward’s reading valuable.
References
- Bruinsma, G. & Bernasco, W. (2004). Criminal Groups and Transnational Illegal Markets: Examination on the Basis of Social Network Theory, Crime, Law & Social Change 41: 79–94.
- Cottee, S. and Hayward, K. (2011). Terrorist (e)motives: The existential attractions of terrorism, Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 34, 963–986.
- Perry, & Hasisi, B. (2015). Rational Choice Rewards and the Jihadist Suicide Bomber. Terrorism and Political Violence, 27(1), 53–80. https://doi.org/10.1080/09546553.2014.962991
- LibreTexts. (July 17, 2023). Globalization and Transnational Crime in Human Security in World Affairs - Problems and Opportunities 2e. Accessed on September 03, 2023
- UNODC. (2018). Module 1: Introduction to International Terrorism in Education for Justice University Module Series: Counter-Terrorism. Accessed on September 03, 2023
Consider the challenges in conducting qualitative research, such as risk and danger in conducting fieldwork, multicultural and multilingual settings, and limited resources.
Various qualitative research methods offer significant interpretative value and produce culturally rich analyses (Blake, 2020), but it doesn’t come without their risks and challenges. Qualitative research in a global or international context introduces additional risks and challenges, especially when considering multicultural and multilingual settings as cultural differences.
Ethical considerations
Qualitative researchers enter a new location as an outsider. This status doesn’t change regardless of how well-acquainted the researcher becomes with the community (IQR Toolkit, 2021). When conducting research in a violent setting, these risks and dangers become more prominent.
One of the most important considerations and challenges involves guaranteeing the privacy and anonymity of participants in a dangerous space and protecting vulnerable groups, including those susceptible to gender discrimination (Blake, 2020). Researchers must consider surveillance and time of interviews when planning interviews in dangerous environments.
Blake emphasizes the importance of minimizing all participants’ risks to personal safety (2020). Failure to understand the local culture and follow these guidelines could introduce life-threatening repercussions from violent agents in the space (state, gang culture, or other).
Askanius (2019) introduces a critical question that all researchers should use throughout the process — why and for whom are we producing research on these groups, and what ethical considerations and problems related to intent could arise?
Environmental considerations
While speaking about the dangerous spaces in Latin American and Caribbean countries, Blake (2020) points to political turbulence and state-led violence, gang culture due to the drug trade, and violence within communities due to poor economic circumstances and weak leadership. As an outsider entering this space, it is essential to have a gatekeeper who can navigate the spaces, increase trust, and serve as a buffer to cultural conflict.
Environmental factors can reduce accessibility to research sites for fieldwork. For example, Blake describes how Jill (a pseudonym) had difficulty accessing a site due to military presence, which interfered with her research objectives and schedule (2020). Accessibility is also impacted by gang violence and language barriers.
In other instances, environmental health risks can also present a risk and challenge when conducting fieldwork. Sonia Richter discusses weather, roads, and even health risks (such as the Ebola outbreak) impacting safety when conducting fieldwork in Ghana. Looking at international health guidelines helps navigate this challenge (IQR Toolkit, 2021).
Cultural and identity considerations
Finally, it is important to note that the researcher’s identity impacts fieldwork processes and safety in the field. While a gatekeeper helps soften the clash of cultures or languages, there is usually an element of distrust when an outsider enters the environment. This level of distrust may vary depending on the race, culture, ethnicity, age, and gender of the researcher.
Blake reveals how distrust is experienced through both familiarity and unfamiliarity. For example, Blake’s identity as a dark-skinned Jamaican man allowed him to connect with research participants. However, it also introduced skepticism as the participants were suspicious that he worked for the government or a law enforcement agency (2020).
Alternatives to fieldwork?
There is the option to use video conferencing to facilitate focus groups for qualitative data collection. However, there are significant challenges and limitations, even in ideal situations where participants are adept with technology and have the necessary resources (Greenspan et al., 2021). For example, poor connection, high attrition rate, and inability to read body language.
References
- Askanius, T. (2019). Studying the Nordic Resistance Movement: Three urgent questions for researchers of contemporary neo-Nazis and their media practices. Media, Culture & Society 41, 6, 878–888.
- Blake, D.K. (2020). Researching violence: Conducting risky fieldwork in dangerous spaces across Latin America and the Caribbean. Journal of Ethnographic & Qualitative Research 14, 153–169.
- Greenspan, S.B., Gordon, K.L., Whitcomb, S.A., and Lauterbach, A.A. (2021). Use of video conferencing to facilitate focus groups for qualitative data collection. American Journal of Qualitative Research 5, 1, 85-93.
- IQR Toolkit (November 18, 2021). Conducting Qualitative Research in an International Context. [Video]. YouTube https://youtu.be/teMrM32vpSo