Explanation on terrorism as a rational phenomenon

The idea is not use rational thoughs as a psychological phenomenon, the idea is to put the terrorism as a logical phenomenon, explained by mathematical/economical reason, showing that the logics of the attacks are caused by linked events that (sometimes not showing some logics between themselves) leads the actors to commit acts of extreme violence.

Psychology, philosophy and religion are importants for sure, but many times people forget to study the social problems, economy involved, and even administrative theories, payment, financing, hierarchical behavior, strategy, will, motivation, objectives, gains, etc.

            Terrorists are rational actors that attack against military and, specially, civilian targets to cause impact and target political purposes. Suicide terrorists are more specific, but still are rational actors. The psychological study of their acts show that the act itself has a more precious gain, higher than the political meaning. Generally they are moved by religious and philosophical thoughts. It’s a complex analysis between the rational though and the strategic. Rational Choice Theory identifies specific units of analysis and attempts to rationalize their decision as to why they engage in terrorist activity. (LINDAUER) Prove the assumption of terrorists as rational actors is important to understand the psychology, empirical and concrete motives for the actions and their modus operandi.

            Rational thoughts derives from the economics, it assumes a behavioral proclivity as a given and attempts to explain how changes in policy predictably after the behavior. Martha Crenshaw explores that:

“Significant campaigns of terrorism depend on rational political choice. As a powerful activity, terrorism is the result of an organization’s decision that it politically useful means to oppose government. The argument that terrorist behavior should be analyzed as "rational" is based on the assumption that terrorist organizations possess internally consistent sets of values, beliefs, and images of the environment.” (CRENSHAW, 1981)

            The economy and politics walk together. Economy is a fuel to move the politics, and to a nation have power, it must have stable economy and control for its natural resources. For the control of the whole nation, the economy must be stable into micro groups, so the sources for a successful propaganda, like terrorist attacks against civilians, causing fear and recruiting more soldiers, the group must have to be economically active, example of Bin Laden that was a funder for the Al Qaeda leaders.

“Briefly, microeconomics is the study of behavior using economic units and is concerned with the factors that affect individual economic choices, the effect of changes in these factors on the individual decision makers, how their choices are coordinated by markets, and how prices and demand are determined in individual markets.” (LINDAUER)

            So, this relation between costs of the operations and which tactic will use to achieve it’s goals shows that the terrorist actions are all well calculated, in general, leaders have money to finance an attack, and promises good return, also spiritual return.

            Using the strategy of manipulate the mind of the soldier for a bigger cause, using religion to manipulate. The combination of rational and strategic (more empiric) thoughts show that:  “Strategic choice theory potentially offers vital insights into the potential payoff of terrorist versus government actions. By uncovering otherwise cryptic benefits, this approach may help explain otherwise enigmatic behaviors. Insofar as humans evolved to function as sophisticated calculators of risks and benefits insofar as groups function collectively to actualize the will of their members, one can make quantitative predictions regarding the theoretical circumstances under which terrorist behavior serves group and individual interests.” (VICTOROFF, 2005).

            Think of a terrorist organization as a organism:

“The argument that terrorist behavior should be analyzed as "rational" is based on the assumption that terrorist organizations possess internally consistent sets of values, beliefs, and images of the environment. Terrorism is seen collectively as a logical means to advance desired ends.” (CRENSHAW, 1981)

            In the Rappaport theory of the Fourth Wave of Terrorism, Crenshaw says: “Thus the "new" terrorists seek to cause high numbers of casualties and are willing to commit suicide or use  weapons of mass destruction in order to do so. Finally, whereas traditional militants were linked in tight, centralized, structured conspiracies, the organization of the "new" terrorists is decentralized and diffuse.” (CRENSHAW, 2000)

            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.

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.