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PSC 371: World Politics and Terrorism
Outline by Adam Farquhar, April 2005
Crenshaw, Martha. 1998. "The Logic of Terrorism: Terrorist Behavior as a Product of Choice." Terrorism and Counter Terrorism. 2(1): 54-64.

I. The logic of terrorism.

A. Terrorism is chosen many times because it is the most efficient.
B. Experts have struggled to find out why a logical person would join a terrorist organization.
1. One suggestion is that the benefits could be psychological.
2. Others argue that people accept it because of "collective rational;" in other words, what’s good for the individual isn’t always "collectively good.
II. The conditions of terrorism.
A. Why do some radical organizations result to terrorism when there are other alternatives to radical change?
1. Some claim that the other alternatives have been tried and didn’t work, while others reject other alternatives all together.
B. Why are radical organizations so weak as to have to result to terrorism?
1. Terrorism seems to be the option for the weak.
2. Many say they are weak because the majority of the population don’t agree with there radical change.
3. Another explanation for the weakness of terrorism is the inability to mobilize support.
4. A third explanation is the inability of groups to identify support in authoritarian regimes.
C. A change in the balance of power between government and challenger can cause a group to result to terrorism.
1. One change in this balance is the government’s ability to respond and suppress terrorism.
2. Another change would involve the government making an unpopular decision, thus creating more support for the terrorist organization.
III. The cost and benefit of terrorism.
A. The cost is extremely high, usually involving a harsh reaction by the government.
B. The benefit could mean that political change could be put on the agenda.
IV. Hostage taking as bargaining.
A. Hostage taking is seen as coercive bargaining.
1. It is essentially a form of blackmail.
2. Hostage takers usually truly seek the concessions they demand
B. The hostage taker deals with a paradox: How can this be perceived as a real threat when the successfulness of the objective depends on the hostage staying alive.
C. Hostage takers in the past have tried to gain popular support by making popular demands.