Individual Motivations, The Group Process and Organisational Strategies in Suicide Terrorism

ABSTRACT The phenomenon of suicidal terrorism is analysed here on three levels. The individual level considers the motivations, developmental phases, and temperamental predispositions that may foster the readiness to embark on suicidal missions. The group level considers the social influence processes, the construction of shared realities and the ideological value systems these contain. Finally, the organisational level considers the strategic and tactical aspects of launching suicidal terrorism in terms of a means–end analysis. It is suggested that all three levels of analysis contribute insights into the phenomenon of suicidal terrorism and imply ways of addressing it.