Why do Individuals Become Terrorists - Coursework Example

WHY DO INDIVIDUALS BECOME TERRORISTS? By of the of the of the School 24 July Introduction Terrorism is a major challenging anti-social behaviour that has existed for centuries. Over the past three decades, the world has experienced the worst in history through terrorism ammunitions, killing thousands of people and destroying billion worth of property across nations. Incidences such as September/11 attacks in New York and Washington by Al-Qaeda, July/2009 in Nigeria by Boko Haram, multiple suicide bombs in Iraq and Arab countries and current mass killings by all-shabaab in East Africa have called for governments to tighten their security and formulate terrorism prevention strategies (Johnston, 2014). You must admit that governments and in collaboration have used tremendous efforts in fighting terrorism, capturing the attackers and dismantling the terrorism network organizations. However, through high investment in security and counterterrorism, many more individuals are still joining the terrorism. It is a sensitive issue that government should take time to consider, understand why people join and remain in such terrorism organizations, or at least what makes some people vulnerable to becoming extremists, so as to develop effective ways to rescue/prevent their crime involvement. Terrorists are a threat to their own countries and abroad. In the following discussion, the paper gives detailed explanation to the reasons why people choose to engage in terrorism in effort to elaborate their behaviour. 1. Motivation by material rewards Most people would describe terrorists as psychopath without a moral standard, due to the actions they choose to undertake. The occurrence of events such as bomb attacks in major cities around the world by terrorists groups are devastating to the people affected. As innocent people and especially children lose their lives, it is difficult to explain at a glance the kind of people who commit the disaster and what drives them. The fact is that terrorists are ordinary people, majority of who have no psychological illness/condition and operate in the normal rules of behaviour (Maiese, 2005). It is easy to explain the behaviour of a serial killer targeting women based on their childhood neglect/abuse by a mother who exercised prostitution. How of the actions of a lawfully recognized citizen employed who turns out to be a suicide bomber in full passenger plane. What would hinder a poor civilian struggling to raise a large family from wearing a bomb plugged suit to walk into a hotel where a targeted top official is expected to be and blow off? Other than religious heavenly rewards associated with jihad, money is a motivational factor. Terrorist organization plans their attacks in a calculated manner and target vulnerable people other than their trained personnel to execute the attack. Many people have joined terrorism or at least functioned as accomplices just for the huge money reward. Some have transported WMD to required locations while have others successively executed suicidal attacks; For suicidal bombers their families benefit from the large sum of money and can generally serve as a way of pulling families out of poverty (Maiese, 2005). For them, it is a noble act to secure the future of their loved ones even if they never get to see them again. Similarly, just as governments reward civilians for reliable information concerning terrorists, extremists’ organizations also go an extra mile to hire their own spies inside and outside of the governments to acquire sensitive information. The promises for money, poverty effects and greed have recently been established as the reason for youths’ recruitment to all-shabaab in East Africa (Hansen, 2013). 2. The need for a belonging There are vulnerable people in the societies today that struggle for acceptance from the social units and settings they are brought up in. Most people and criminologist do not realize that rejection and not been appreciated /loved, right from the simplest social units is a possibility of generating terror to those suffering alienation. As people grow up, they desire affection and care from those around them. However, early anti-social behaviour like theft leading to juvenile imprisonments and crimes related to murder that push people to several years in prison, or even unwelcomed behaviour in societies like homosexuality could have devastating effects afterwards. Society members find it very difficult either to associate with such people after imprisonment or to interact, even though their crimes and behaviours are not contagious. As a result of the rejection from the society, Beck and Malley state that “they either both internalize the rejection and learn to hate them­selves or externalize the rejection and learn to hate others” (1998, p. 133). Socialization for alienated members in the society becomes a challenge for their wellbeing and are the vulnerable targets who have a need for belonging After a social history of rejection in families or communities, once spotted by radicalizing agents, they teach them how to appreciate themselves, offer warmth, kindness, closeness and a sense of belonging that they lacked before, whether not knowing or conscious of their radicalization process. According to Borum, “many prospective terrorists find not only a sense of meaning, but also a sense of belonging, connectedness and affiliation” (2004, p. 26). It is true to say that where the society fails to give former criminals a second chance to change, terrorist organizations step and instead become the substitute families for rejected persons in society. Some with bright minds may be educated by financiers of terrorist organizations whom the societies assume honourable. Prospective terrorist may not clearly understand early in time; they are hindered by the feeling of appreciation and an established belongingness from realizing there could be a calculated mission for them in future. With time they share beliefs and grow in solidarity towards one another and their extremist missions. This is how great minds are developed to assist proliferate terrorism, only to give them the ability to create WMD, train soldiers and pilots among other professional required (Hudson, 1999). Besides, it is difficult to deny the people who accepted you for who you were. 3. Marginalization Marginalization is a problem experienced in every nation, which generates to social class divide of the rich and poor. While the governments have relentlessly collected taxes from their citizens, both the rich and the poor, distribution or resources and development is not felt equally back in the societies. Much has been allocated to productive lands where agriculture is flourishing, or natural resources like oil, gases and precious stones are exploited, while regions of dry lands and where pastoralists dominates in places like Africa have received less attention (Shetret, Schwartz and Cotter, 2013). There places people see just the flag and use a national currency, but can hardly point out what the government has done in their regions in terms of development. Infrastructure and technology only reaches the main capitals leaving them out of communication, innovation, education and other developments. In line with this Moscoe argues that “certain individuals join terrorist groups in response to – and as one option for resisting – prolonged and severe marginalization within their political communities” (2013, p.1). These makes communities feel marginalized and want to seek attention from broader society. It is how uprisings emerge in nations leading to political and social dilemmas and in severe cases supporting and joining extremist and violent groups (Brock, 2012). People form movements/organizations with leaders to make their demands and voice heard by the governments. It is a common method to formation of most domestic terrorists’ organizations in developing countries. They start by small or secret organizations claiming to protect the rights of the communities against marginalization. According to Abbott, a lieutenant in the US army, “over-populated Latin American cities are home to many disenfranchised groups and marginalized communities capable of supporting terrorist activities or fomenting home-grown terrorism” (2004).Though lawfully have a right to express themselves, some secretly begin recruiting and eventually fighting the government back, threatening lives of other communities to meets their needs and calling for secession. 4. Sympathizing and radicalization A large number of people seem to sympathize with terrorists and perhaps their actions. Many of the domestic and external terrorists imprisoned and those yet to be arrested have acquired certain reputation that attracts people to desire to know them better. Criminal profiling and the current use of social media, like the internet have given people access to information about terrorist backgrounds and experiences in life before they became extremists. Similarly, when terrorist are captured, serious discussions and debate follow, especially on TV and via internet among other media evaluating the motivations towards their violent behaviours, critically looking into presence of disadvantaged background, criminal records and abuses from childhood and their mental health issues (Pizzi, 2014). One, it creates room for sympathizers, whom actively follow up to their associated activities, to become passive before they turn out into active supporters of their actions. This is can not only be taken as a pre-radicalization stage steered to ignite sympathetic feelings towards individuals conformation to violent crimes, but secondly allows the media to give actions of terror and perpetrators the attention they have always desired. McCants and Watts point that people would sympathies with extremist groups/individuals, when they believe the actions they took were justified, when no other means would achieve it, and that it did more good than harm (2012, p. 2). Young people in higher education learning and those who experienced disadvantaged life are more likely to be radicalized out of sympathy (Dovey, 2014). Internet has become one channel for radicalization especially through blogs and online debates forums while seek views concerning issues and terrorism behaviour. 5. Identity Some people struggle for a while in their lives to establish who they really are in the society, before they are radicalized into terrorists. As people grow up, in their teenage and young adults’ age they engage in certain behaviours, face numerous challenging problems and stress while under strict counsel of the guardians or religious teachings; all of these help a person develop a stable sense of self, shaping their values and beliefs in life. Majority successfully develop personal identity essential for their moral stand, but a good number who are emotionally challenged end up having a prolonged search for identity. The longer they remain in the ‘cocoon,’ they are exposed to terrorist radicalization/recruitment due to their recognizable vulnerability. A number of youths find it difficult to navigate through the complicated world to identify with someone or something of valuable, of moral integrity that would shape their personality. The story of Kasab, the perpetrator of 2008 massacre in India better explains an individual searching for identity and a sense of belongingness; from an individual rebuked for being a nobody or lack of employment and given no importance to a radicalized individual who returns home as a Jihad only to earn respect in from the same society (Henderson, 2013). Certain traits within people like low self-esteem, traumatic experiences and inability to make solid decisions by individuals especially in their youths, push them out to search for identity most likely luring them to extremist organizations (Kaczynski, 2013). Because of the unsatisfied identity needs, some individuals end up falling in an identity foreclosure where they accept someone’s role and set of ideas and values (identity) without personal and critical examination” (Borum, 2004, p. 25). These individuals fail to evaluate possible alternatives to develop a different set of identity commitments. As a result, authoritarian fore-closures are most likely to welcome and place destructive principles of terrorism salient to their sense of self. Where the purpose and goal to be established in life demands violent behaviours, supporting and practicing acts of terror are easy to slip in as a means to achieve. According to Schwartz, Dunkel and Waterman, social, cultural and personal identities not only underlie terrorism, but their “interaction among specific identity configuration plays the greatest role in determining the likelihood that one will engage in terrorism” (2009, p. 540). Some end up defining their identity through their membership to extremist groups. 6. Thrill or adventure seeker This is perhaps the most unconvincing reason in the society, but there are people whose aim in life to fulfil most of their fantasies. Majority of them have a difficulty in distinguishing the reality fantasies perceived in the mind. It can best explain the mind of a psychopath, who can engage in mass killings without any remorse. This category of people motivated by adventures seeks new challenges in life to prove his heroism and capability by engaging in tough or heinous task, where which puts them in a demanding position, where everyone either depend or looks up to them for such as mercy or survivor. They hence get to accomplish their purpose in the adventures. Majority of the crimes such as robbery and street fights occurring in the contemporary world are common among the youths. They seek opportunities to explore their environment and practice violence for fun through camping, sleepovers and parties. You would agree with Atran to say that “most human violence is committed by young people seeking adventure, dreams of glory, and esteem in the eyes of their peers not forgetting that friends’ willingness to go out and do violence together is much more likely” (2008). Most of these people may neither show no appreciation in normal appealing performances, nor ever driven by substantial motives shared by rest of family or community unless it is extra ordinary. In explaining the motive behind youths joining Al-Qaeda, colonel Venhaus said that “thrill seekers are “often attracted to violent video games and the fanciful tales of returning fighters; for them al-Qaeda is a horror action brand that promises spectacular violence and unimaginable glory” (2010, p. 11). Where resources are available thrill seekers would make a move, travelling around and engaging in action packed adventures even if it results to violence and terror to avoid boredom and pursue a course they are interested in. 7. Distorted perspective of religious view The use of religious rationalization in inciting terrorism is a modern strategy to seek support for acts of terror, especially among people who share similar religious beliefs. Islam religion more than Christian has been accused of supporting terrorism, where some teachings in the holy books are interpreted to support acts of terrorism. Spataro, a highly experienced publics prosecutor and investigator in terrorism crimes mentioned that “distorted views of the principles of Islam and a violent and criminal interpretation of the obligation of Jihad constitute the main factor of terrorism drive” (2008). As the world continue to experience incidences of Muslim instigated terrorism, majority of these perpetrators while claiming responsibility have persistently justified their terrorism behaviour resulting to loss of life and property destruction, by manipulating religion and beliefs achieve their goals. Muslims extremists work with objectives and looking deeply into them, you realize that one of them is raising an Islamic state and laying their tactical objectives alongside their religion. For example, the GIA of Algeria and Egyptian Islamic Jihad from Egypt have a common aim to make the countries Islamic States and foster anti-western politic and interests (hanford.gov, n.d). What are commonly reiterated among Muslim terrorists are the jihad war and movements, which serve to seek support and proliferation of their political objectives. Although terrorism has no place in Islam religion, most of their attacks have been attributed to Islam (Marans, 2013). Shallow understanding of Islam religion combined with wrong interpretation and radicalization have made it possible for people kill in the name of Allah and due to hatred for other religions. Certain verses in Quran which state that “why should you not fight in God’s cause and for those oppressed men, women, and children who cry out (4:75)…….and if anyone kills a person – unless in retribution for murder or spreading corruption in the land – it is as if he kills all mankind, while if any saves a life it is as if he saves the lives of all mankind (5:32)” have been manipulated and to offer a distorted perspective that supports terrorism (whyislam.org, n.d). Christian extremists have also justified killings through the Old Testament teachings, holding that God used killings to protect the chosen generation of Israelites. Because of this perspective, it is not difficult when angered to fight back in claim for retribution or a righteous course, and would end up killing innocent lives and discriminatively hurting members of a different faith without remorse. They argue that religion is source of their motivation and what leads them to be successful, by simply being faithful servants. Whatever is required of them to support the cause of their religion or in the name of Allah, they would risk. On extreme side, leaders of terrorist organization like the late Osama bin Laden quoted the Quran to justify their crimes in the western nations. Majority of others captured in attempt or after carrying out heinous acts have testified to have done and would be willing to repeat their actions in the name of Allah. Religious terrorists are inspired by manipulated religious ideologies. 8. Revenge for injustices Some sociologist and psychologists argue that human have born evil, with a desire perform evil while others hold that criminals are constructed from difficult and even abuse experiences in life. The only difference is the control implemented by majority from engaging in crimes or acts of terror. However there is that inflicted pain and injustice entirely difficult to forgive or forget that selective people would hold a grudge to. It becomes worse if it results to more severe consequences and frustration that anger is built up in individuals. Past injustices inspire hurt individuals to join terrorists’ organization to seek revenge for the wrong done. According to Kochler, perceived injustices often motivates terrorist acts towards targeted countries and entities, who refuse to consider questions as to their own responsibility or co-responsibility for those injustice (2008). No doubt that in the cause of anger and unsettled differences arising from social, political and economic injustices, people desire for vengeance to redress earlier injustices. Hence at any available opportunity when one can strike back, people blocked by their desire for revenge engage and follow the paths of terrorism. The effects of betrayal and injustices after loyal service to a country or company by individuals could cause them to develop hatred and strong reason for long lasting and unsettled grievances. For example, many soldiers come back after war with some defects; some suffer from Post traumatic disorder, others suffer physical loss (arms, sight, hearing etc), deaths, internal and external permanent injuries least to mention broken families or death of their loved ones, which in various way leads them to blame themselves and governments for what was or not done. Some of the veterans and families of soldiers who die in way feel that the benefits given to them by the governments they worked for poorly appreciate them. A percentage of military personnel and veterans, disgruntled by the government would be willing to join extremists groups with an aim of boosting the extremists’ capabilities, through their military skills and knowledge, while at the same time challenging the government in vengeance (fas.org, 2009). The desire to avenge for the injustices done to other are what fuels most terrorists, which after time becomes an obsession. The case of Kamel Daoudi charges for been an accomplice in a plot to blow the American embassy in Paris is a perfect example of how ordinary and noble people are drawn to terrorism through their strong desire to fight injustices and its supporters. After witnessing the Algerian war, torture and misery inflicted upon innocent people, especially women and children, assassinations and control executed by former western colonial powers, he developed hatred over the opposition of Islam, which eventually compelled him to actively support terrorism to fight injustices and western perpetrators (cengage.com, 2009). Al-Qaeda has executed numerous attacks in the western countries in vengeance for injustices executed by western soldiers in the Arab countries. 9. To oppose and weaken the governments Every nation practicing democracy struggles with political parties, formed organization and individuals who are out to citizen the government for its undertakings. Rarely does nothing done by the government is welcomed by these groups; in fact, when a group turns to be influential, a strong opposition could be formed to strongly terrorize the government and paralyze its operations. Civil organizations inside the broader opposition form in this manner, recruiting youths and paying them to pressure government by instigating violence to change certain policies or even overthrow the government. In the global context, “most recent terrorist attacks seem to be the work of foreign extremists determined to change U.S. policy in the Middle East by causing as many deaths as possible” (crf-usa.org, n.d). Terrorist agents takes advantage of the situation and begin radicalizing unsatisfied individuals with the governments enacted policies that join the ‘opposition,’ not aiming to change policies, but show the weaknesses of the government and turn people against it. Conclusion For centuries, terrorism, which is a very serious anti-social behaviour, has existed. In recent years however, the vice has increased as more individuals join terrorist groups. There are many reasons why people join terrorist groups. In this paper, motivation by material rewards, the need for a belonging, marginalization, sympathizing and radicalization, identity, adventure seeking, distorted perspectives or religious views, revenge for injustices, and opposition and weakening of governments, which are all reasons found to motivate people into joining terrorist groups, have been discussed. Governments all over the world have responded to rising incidences of terrorism activities by collaborating and making efforts to fight terrorism, capture the attackers, and dismantling the terrorism network organizations. References Abbott, P. K. 2004. Terrorist Threat in the Tri-Border Area: Myth and Reality? [Online] Available at: [Accessed 24 July 2014] Atran, S. 2008. Who Becomes a Terrorist Today? [Online] Available at: [Accessed 26 July 2014] Beck, M., and Malley, J. 1998. A Pedagogy of Belonging. Reclaiming Children and Youth 7 (3). [Online] Available at: [Accessed 24 July 2014] Brock, H. 2012. 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