Terrorism as a rational phenomenon pt. 2 (article)

            It’s very complex to link a logic on suicide terrorism and rational theories into economy, but it’s coming back to the Durkheim theory of anomic suicide, when there is no reason to live. In general the social problems and economics, are linked and religious fanaticism can be a trigger for invite people for a cause, not excluding their own will.

            The psychological terrorist exists in the confines of any modern society. “Some terrorists are unbalanced, violent individuals suffering some form of psychosis. Others may be egomaniacs driven to achieve recognition through violence, and who attract a following of other dysfunctional individuals. This characterization may be accurate in cases where terrorists appear to have no logical goal, or motivation, or a purpose that makes little sense to normal people. This can include cases where the goal is the psychological benefit achieved by vengeance (Timothy McVeigh and the Oklahoma City bombing). Psychologically motivated terrorism is simply a criminal act, like serial killing, and doesn’t qualify for analysis as political violence.” (SANDERS)

                For Sanders, the third potential motivator of terrorism is the “culturally motivated terrorist”. “This motivation is most common in situations where an ethnic or religious group fears extermination, or loss of their common identity, language or culture. It may also be combined with political motives, where the rulers discriminate against the ethnic group in terms of jobs, economic opportunity or access to the political process. In the case of oppressed minorities, opposed by a strong, entrenched regime, terrorism may be seen as the only available option. This is especially true where demands for political reform are ignored, where there are few, if any, external allies, and where the regime resorts to collective punishment for what are seen as reasonable and justified demands.” (SANDERS)

            We check all the assumptions and possibilities of terrorist attacks, it’s not simple random. Imagine a terrorist that want to execute an attack, it must be precise, have to focus on any political end, show the media and society it’s strength and cause commotion, the psychological and social factor enters now. Commotion, the image that he will show is important and media is it’s best allied.

            Psychological factor also explains the motive of the terrorist, first he had the political motive, and for sure calculates mathematically and economically the possibilities of the execution being successful, but he have to exclude feelings. Motivations seems aleatory, just an act of an irrational figure, but the end of this the religious dogmas, fault, punishment, is something that the terrorist have to face, and there is a psychological factor that excludes feelings on him.

            Cultural motives are very close to political motives. Any of the five waves of terrorism were followed by these three motives, economy and policy and cultural, psychological motive is the trigger for the conclusion of any act.

            To explain the psychological motive Borowitz uses the history of Herostratos and in his book “Terrorism for Self Glorification: The Herostratos Syndrome”, he uses the “Herostratus Syndrome” in history of many different actions that happened for an egocentric reasons. The theory is about to observe the ideal behind and beyond the mind of the terrorist actor, in general his ego. Example, each terrorist from Palestine before the suicide attack use intimidating pictures, record a video explaining the motives and how he would be glorified by God. This same attitude can be sewn in the case on Rio de Janeiro, when a teenager guy did the same attitude of the Columbine massacre, when he went to a school and attacked some kids. This maybe the figure of the lone wolf terrorist, like, also, McVeigh doing all alone. Bin Laden when assumed the attack in public was too much ego. Bin Laden had the emotion and enthusiasm for the attack, finances to spend on it and political ideology adverse, the three potential motivators for the attack.

            And beyond these examples, many others can be explained as egoist, the media spreading the message of his own act, spreading the image and causing fear. For Borowitz the terrorists share a desire of being famous, attract attention to his acts, and there is a combination on make the action public, a famous person that raises against the act is important because shows notoriety on it. The action may cause panic and throw people against each others. “The cravin for fame may combine with other motives personal and/or ideological, in including a criminal act.” (BOROWITZ, p. 12).

            “Feeling loneliness, alienation, mediocrity, and failure may trigger an envy directed against those perceived to be more successful or prestigious. Envy is exacerbated by an ambition, competitive spirit and the conviction that avenues to success are unfairly blocked.” (BOROWITZ, p. 12).

            Two examples can picture this two commandments: first is when Osama bin Laden recorded a video explaining about the September 11^th, “self-glorifying” on doing the terrorist action, explaining about his own knowledge on the success of attack. 

Second is the Boston Marathon, that the brothers were alone, posting on social networks constantly that they hated how American citizens live and showing how alone and alienated, on his culture, on being different. 

Conclusion

            The assumption is true, suicide terrorists are rational actors. Using terrorism as a middle to obtain it’s goals, leaders use the strategy and modus operandi, rational though – economy – and philosophy – religion – and have a good propaganda and way for manipulation of soldiers, using a bigger well, that will be common for everyone, like future for the children without influence of any other culture they assure it’s destructive.

            Suicide terrorists are all well prepared and doctrine, and they know all about to do, volunteering to the action. Political measures have to be taken, because philosophy aligned with fanaticism it’s a dangerous weapon, because combine aggressive behavior, will, means and tactics.