Suicide Terrorism

Suicide terrorism in its modern form made its first appearance in Lebanon in the early 1980s. Over the last quarter century, terrorist attacks perpetrated by suicide bombers have spread to many corners of the world and have become a major threat for both the governments and citizens of numerous countries. Can this devastating phenomenon be attributed to a specific religion or culture? What are the causes and motivations that lead ordinary people to embark upon suicide attacks? How are potential bombers trained for their mission? And is it possible for democratic governments to effectively cope with this challenge? In this compelling book, Ami Pedazhur investigates the root causes of suicide terrorism and its rapid proliferation in recent years. Drawing on a variety of sources, the book explores the use of human bombs in Lebanon, Israel, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Chechnya, Iraq, and the ostentatious attacks of Al-Qaeda and the global jihad. It is the only book to offer such an in-depth, up-to-date, cross cultural analysis of suicide terrorism in the twenty-first Century.

Acknowledgements List of Figures Chapter 1 What is Suicide Terrorism? The Symbiosis between Terror and Death What is Suicide Terrorism? General Features of Suicide Terrorism in the World Tactical Features of Suicide Terrorism Methods of Operation Targets of Suicide Terrorism Plan of the Book Chapter 2 How Can Suicide Terrorism Be Explained? Strategic-Rational Decision-Making The Social-Cultural Aspect Recruitment of the Potential Suicide Bomber The Organisational Procedure Summary Chapter 3 Turning to Suicide Terrorism: Hezbollah and the Palestinian Organisations Founding Fathers of Modern-Day Suicide Terrorism The Hezbollah in Lebanon Suicide Terrorism A Winning Strategy Suicide Terrorism as a Tool for Gaining Power in Political Arenas in Lebanon and the Middle East External or Internal Struggle? Suicide Terrorism in the Palestinian Arena Suicide Terrorism A Strategy for Advancing the Peace Process? Suicide Terrorism as a Strategy in the Contemporaneous Struggle against both Israel and the Palestinian Authority Suicide Terrorism as a Tool in Rivalry among Organisations The Case of the Al-Aqsa Intifada Summary Chapter 4 Turning to Suicide Terrorism The LTTE and the PKK Overall Strategy or a Specific Tactic? Suicide Terrorism of the LTTE in Sri Lanka Suicide Terrorism as a Tool in the Tamil Minority's Struggle for Independence Suicide Terrorism and the Tamil Political Arena Factors Leading to the LTTE's Suspension of Suicide Attacks Suicide Terrorism as a Means of Organisational Survival The PKK in Turkey Popular Support, Member Morale or Strategic Interest? The PKK's Opting for Suicide Terrorism The Role of Turkish Policy in Thwarting Further PKK Suicide Actions Summary Chapter 5 The Transition to Suicide Terrorism: Al-Qaeda and the Network of the Islamic Fundamentalist Groups The Strategy of Ostentatious Suicide Terrorism The Al-Qaeda Organisation Suicide Terrorism of the Islamic Fundamentalist Groups Summary Chapter 6 Who Becomes a Suicide Terrorist? Preconditions for the Emergence of Suicide TerrorismCommitment as a Motivation for Suicide Attacks Personal Motivation for Suicide Attacks Financial Crisis as Motivation Personal Crisis as Motivation Revenge as Motivation An Analysis of the Motivations of Palestinian Suicide Bombers Summary Chapter 7 The Recruitment and Socialisation of the Suicide Terrorist The Environmental Setting of Suicide Terrorism Recruitment Training Dispatching Summary Chapter 8 The Consequences of Suicide Terrorism Afterword The Effects of Suicide Terrorism The Response to Suicide Terrorism Short-Term Offensive Responses Short-Term Defensive Responses Long-Term Offensive Responses Long-Term Defensive Responses Notes Appendix: Suicide Bombings Index