Lecture 4 Extremism - Theories PDF

THEORIES Dr. Heba M. Zahra  Collective action theory ◦ “Four dimensions should be met for collective action to take place: discontent, ideology, ability to organize, and political opportunity.” ◦ “First, there must be prevalent dissatisfaction that cannot be alleviated through conv...

THEORIES Dr. Heba M. Zahra  Collective action theory ◦ “Four dimensions should be met for collective action to take place: discontent, ideology, ability to organize, and political opportunity.” ◦ “First, there must be prevalent dissatisfaction that cannot be alleviated through conventional politics means as elites are either unwilling or unable to provide relief.” ◦ “Second, the aggrieved must collectively define that their complaints are legitimate.” ◦ “Third, individuals must have the capability to recruit, raise funds, provide leaders, communicate and make decisions.” ◦ “Liberal democracies report higher levels of terrorism because political opportunities are greater with civil liberties that make organizing easier by protecting free speech, the dissemination of information and the right of association.” Collective Action Theory ◦ “Finally, political opportunities are expanded when there is strong public support for terrorist activities, political allies that are sympathetic to the cause, a supportive international climate, and outside state support or sponsorship of terrorism.”  POLITICAL ECONOMY ◦ “Sometimes called rational choice, this approach argues that terrorists engage in terrorism because it is a cost-effective means for a weaker party to challenge a strong opponent.” ◦ “A political economy approach assumes that all factors are rational because decisions are based on a cost-benefit analysis. Governments must weigh the costs of conceding to demands (encouraging attacks from counter-groups) against the cost of future attacks.” ◦ “If the cost of a future attack exceeds the cost of conceding, a government may give in to demands. Suicide bombings have become more commonplace because these kill more victims than other methods and raise the anxiety level of targets. Suicide bombings occur in liberal democracies because elected officials perceive pressure to protect lives although making concessions encourages future attacks.”  WORLD SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE ◦ “By comparing the current wave of terrorism with the political unrest of the mid-1800s, Bergesen and Lizardo (2004) suggest a common set of international conditions conducive to international terrorism including hegemonic decline, globalization, empire or colonial competition …..” ◦ “Hegemonic decline is the rise and fall of dominant states. History reveals a pattern of rising and falling empires with no region permanently dominant. Hegemonic decline is inevitable “as the world economy moves to a new center based on more advanced production techniques”.” ◦ “Political entities that cannot adapt to changing global economic conditions will be replaced by political structures that can.” ◦ “These transitions from one hegemonic center to another are not peaceful, as there is no process for transferring advantage. A new power center emerges with the destruction of the former hegemonic state.” World systems perspectives ◦ “Hegemonic decline results in global instability. Outbreaks of international terrorism ….signals the onset of state-to-state power struggles between a declining hegemonic power and other entities vying for control.” ◦ “For example, periods of international terrorism (1880s-1914) preceded both World Wars (1914-1945).” ◦ “The reasons for an increase in terrorism during hegemonic decline are due to strains in the system resulting from the transition from one hegemon to another and the declining influence of the current one.”  Categorical terrorism ◦ “Jeff Goodwin’s (2006, 2012) theory of categorical terrorism proposes to explain violence or threats of violence against noncombatants or civilians.” ◦ “Goodwin argues that terrorists do not attack civilians indiscriminately.” ◦ “Because terrorists are interested in gaining the support of some segments of the population, terrorists direct violence toward “complicitous civilians” or persons who benefit from the actions of the state, support the state, and/or are perceived as having an influence on state policy.” ◦ “Civilians that provide political, economic, or military support to “their state” are more likely terrorism targets. The goal of categorical terrorism is to influence civilians to stop supporting the state or to demand policy changes favored by the terrorists.” ◦ “Goodwin identifies three factors that he believes influence the decision to use categorical terrorism.” ◦ “Terrorism is more likely when combatants perceive civilians as “benefit[ing] from, support[ing], demand[ing] or tolerat[ing] extensive and indiscriminate state violence or state terrorism ….against the revolutionaries and their presumed constituents”.” ◦ “A second factor is the size and strength of the civilian target. When the target group is smaller or well protected because of wealth or social status, violence is less likely.” ◦ “A third factor is the lack of political alliances between revolutionaries and their supporters and the target civilians.” ◦ “When ties or alliances do exist between supporters of categorical terrorists and civilian targets, violence is discouraged because targeting these civilians would jeopardize a potential political ally.” ◦ Reference ◦ Dobratz, Waldner and Buzzell, 2019. QUESTIONS ◦ True or False: ◦ 1-Being exposed to violence will have no impact on the possibility of resorting to aggression. ◦ 2-Governments do not do rational calculations when it comes to terrorism. ◦ Complete: ◦ 1-The theory that shows how terrorism care to intimidate certain civilians is …… ◦ 2-The theory that stresses the international aspect is ……..