Evaluating the Political Rationality of Terrorist Groups [electronic resource] /
van Um, Eric.author.
This book improves our understanding of terrorists’ motivations and rationality and may, ultimately, also indicate how to respond to the phenomenon of terrorism. In his research studies, Eric van Um explores the political rationality of terrorist groups. The political rationality model builds on rational choice theory. It demands that terrorist groups take into account the costs and benefits of their available options and choose the option promising them the highest political utility. Testing the explanatory power of this model is relevant, as rational choice approaches have become very prominent in terrorism research. But, at the same time, their empirical power remains highly contested. Increased knowledge of the political rationality model not only promises added value for terrorism research itself, but also for social sciences more generally. Contents  Terrorists’ Psychological and Economic Rationality  Terrorists’ Motives  The Puzzle of Inter-Terrorist Group Violence  The Puzzle of Terrorist Groups’ Political Ineffectiveness  Testing the Explanatory Power of the Political Rationality Model Target Groups  Lecturers and students of social sciences specializing in security and terrorism research, conflict research, and economic theory  Employees of authorities and think tanks focused on security-related issues The Author Eric van Um received his doctorate degree fro m the University of Hamburg in 2015. His research focus is on security economics, international security, and political violence.
Description based upon print version of record.
Acknowledgments; Contents; List of Tables; List of Figures; Abbreviations and Acronyms; 1 Introduction; 1.1 Terrorists' Psychological and Economic Rationality; 1.2 Purpose of the Book; 1.3 What We Know So Far; 1.4 Research Framework; 1.4.1 Puzzles under Consideration; 1.4.2 Research Strategy; 1.4.3 Sample Selection; 1.5 Organization of the Book; 2 Conceptual Considerations; 2.1 Why They Fight: Examining Terrorists' Motives; 2.1.1 Assuming Political Motives as Prime Drivers; 2.1.2 Assuming Alternative Motives as Prime Drivers; 2.1.3 Overview of the Motives
2.2 How They Fight: Terrorism and Rational Choice2.2.1 The Evolution of Rational Choice Theory; 2.2.2 The Premises of Rational Choice Theory; 2.2.3 Rational Choice Theory under Attack; 2.2.4 Alternative Concepts of Rationality and Modifications of Rational Choice Theory; 2.3 Conclusion; 3 The Puzzle of Inter-Terrorist Group Violence; 3.1 Questioning the Political Rationality of Terrorist Groups; 3.2 State of Research; 3.3 Conceptual Foundations and Research Methodology; 3.3.1 The Puzzle Revisited: Inter-Terrorist Group Violence from Different Conceptual Perspectives
3.3.2 Research Design: Methodology and Operationalization  3.4 A First Impression: Reviewing Groups from a Macro-Perspective ; 3.5 The Case of Northern Ireland; 3.5.1 Inter-Group Violence between Republicans and Loyalists; 3.5.2 Inter-Republican and Inter-Loyalist Violence; 3.5.3 Concluding Remarks; 3.6 The Case of the Palestinian Territories; 3.6.1 Reviewing Inter-Group Violence; 3.6.2 Reviewing the Motives of Inter-Group Violence; 3.6.3 Concluding Remarks; 3.7 Further Cases Considered; 3.7.1 Reviewing Inter-Group Violence; 3.7.2 Reviewing the Motives of Inter-Group Violence
3.7.3 Concluding Remarks3.8 Conclusion; 3.8.1 Reviewing the Occurrence of Inter-Group Violence; 3.8.2 Reviewing the Motives of Inter-Group Violence; 4 The Puzzle of the Political Ineffectiveness of Terrorist Groups; 4.1 Questioning the Political Rationality of Terrorist Groups; 4.2 State of Research; 4.2.1 Evidence of Tactical Effectiveness; 4.2.2 Evidence of Strategic Effectiveness; 4.2.3 Evidence of Strategic Failure; 4.2.4 Overview of Political Success and Failure; 4.3 Conceptual Foundations and Research Methodology
4.3.1 The Puzzle Revisited: The Ineffectiveness of Terrorist Groups from Different Conceptual Perspectives4.3.2 Research Design: Methodology and Operationalization  ; 4.4 The Political Effectiveness of Terrorist Groups Revisited; 4.4.1 Overview of the Objectives of Terrorist Groups; 4.4.2 Overview of the Achievements of Terrorist Groups; 4.4.3 Concluding Remarks; 4.5 Testing the Explanatory Power of Alternative Approaches; 4.5.1 Terrorists in Their Own Words; 4.5.2 The Behavior of Terrorist Groups and Revealed Preferences; 4.5.3 Concluding Remarks
4.6 Why Politically Motivated Groups Start Using Terrorism
Includes bibliographical references.
This book improves our understanding of terrorists’ motivations and rationality and may, ultimately, also indicate how to respond to the phenomenon of terrorism. In his research studies, Eric van Um explores the political rationality of terrorist groups. The political rationality model builds on rational choice theory. It demands that terrorist groups take into account the costs and benefits of their available options and choose the option promising them the highest political utility. Testing the explanatory power of this model is relevant, as rational choice approaches have become very prominent in terrorism research. But, at the same time, their empirical power remains highly contested. Increased knowledge of the political rationality model not only promises added value for terrorism research itself, but also for social sciences more generally. Contents  Terrorists’ Psychological and Economic Rationality  Terrorists’ Motives  The Puzzle of Inter-Terrorist Group Violence  The Puzzle of Terrorist Groups’ Political Ineffectiveness  Testing the Explanatory Power of the Political Rationality Model Target Groups  Lecturers and students of social sciences specializing in security and terrorism research, conflict research, and economic theory  Employees of authorities and think tanks focused on security-related issues The Author Eric van Um received his doctorate degree fro m the University of Hamburg in 2015. His research focus is on security economics, international security, and political violence.
International relations.
Social sciences
International Relations.
Methodology of the Social Sciences.