Terrorism from a Sociological Perspective

Abstract

This paper examines the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria’s terrorism activities through conflict theory as a sociological theoretical framework for terrorism. For that reason, the piece is divided into four sections. In the first section, this report will develop an overview of the topic, highlighting which type of terrorism the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria engage in. The second section will examine the terrorist group under such subtopics as the origin of the terrorist group, their methods of recruitment, targets, and tactics for establishing their attacks. Section three, on the other hand, will launch a sociological theoretical framework for the issue. Finally, the paper will develop a conclusive discussion on the reason for the group’s engagement in terrorism activity.

Introduction

Terrorism has continued to be among the terrifying threats that exist in countries despite improved security. Many governments have allocated resources in technology and various sectors to prevent attacks from terrorists, but the attacks usually come as an ambush. Terrorism, therefore, contains features such as the use of violence, aims at terrifying people, and their desires are based on social, cultural, political, and economic change (Horgan, 2017). Terrorism can be broken down into four distinct types, the most extreme of which is “vigilante terrorism,” in which ordinary citizen’s resort to violence against public targets. State terrorism is when the government uses violence against its people (Byman, 2016). In contrast, international and transnational terrorism occurs when inhabitants of one country carry out violent acts against a victim in another country. This paper examines the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria as a terrorist group by developing a sociological analysis of the origin of the Islamic state. The report will also discuss the push reason for people to join terrorist organizations, what explains gender distribution in terrorism activities, why right-wing terrorism occurs, and the sociological theoretical perspective of terrorism.

Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)

Origin of ISIS and why people join

Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is a Sunni jihadist group. ISIS is known for its violent ideology and claims it has spiritual power over all Muslims. Al Qaida’s activity inspired the group, but the two later separated. Islamic State is an international terrorist group it transcends its borders and has followers in several countries (Gomes & Mikhael, 2018). It originated from the civil war in Iraq and Syria. Most people tend to conclude terrorists may have some psychological challenges, which may result in them being sadists hence acting impulsively and irrationally.

However, research has concluded that most terrorists are normal human beings despite their violent behaviors. Studies have indicated that vulnerability and motive are among the critical psychological factors that determine one’s process of becoming a terrorist (Hudson, 1999). The explanation is linked to psychological needs, emotions, and desire, while the vulnerability is susceptibility. The reason why people join terrorism is the motivation of the ideology the group presents. One may join when presented with the opportunity to perform their greatest desire if they lack the feeling of belonging if they desire social status and are acquiring materialistic gains.

People that Join ISIS

Most people who decide to join the Islamic State terrorism group are usually unemployed and socially isolated individuals. For example, uneducated youths may join for adventure, money, or issues. Some join because of the skills needed by the groups, while religious or political convictions may drive educated youths. However, most are recruited from student activists or prison groups. In most terrorist groups, males are the dominating factor. According to Banks (2019), 87 percent of terrorist activities are spearheaded by males. Female terrorists’ percentage is less than 20 percent. The females in terrorist groups are mainly given roles such as information collection, nurses, cooks, maintaining their hiding places, and other light functions. However, recently the number of female terrorists has continued to increase.

Target Groups for ISIS

The model and influence of the Islamic State have continued to spread in various countries. Unlike Al Qaida, Islamic State prefers tackling neighboring enemies; on a regional level. The group does not target the United States, but it targets the apostate regimes in the world of Arabs, which include the Syria Asad regime and the Iraq Abadi regime (Crisis Group, 2021). Its primary focus is to purify the Islamic community; hence, it attacks minor Muslim groups and jihadist groups that are their rivals.

Tactics Used

The Islamic group’s tactics are controlling territories, consolidating, and expanding its organization. Through this, it has an ideology of creating a government that ensures Muslims live under Islamic laws. Many Muslims tend to join the group because of this ideology. Through controlling territories, the group believes it can establish an army that can be used to control more environments (Rubenstein, 1987). Its main aim is conquering. Hence it used mass forces, man pads, and tanks while acquiring a new territory or defending their already developed places. Therefore, it is seen as a revolutionary war. The group uses public beheadings, symbolic crucifixion, rape, and mass extinction to ‘purify’ a community.

Right-wing terrorism

Right-wing terrorism is terrorist activities motivated by far-right or right-wing ideologies. Their aim is always to replace or overthrow the government or regimes. Islamic State falls under this category as it believes its actions will result in forming the government. These terrorist groups also do not have a rigid ideology. They choose their target wisely and not randomly since they target a group considered foreign and not an individual (Byman, 2016).

Terrorism Theoretical Perspective

Many researchers agree that terrorism has a structural root, and hence it is a rational response despite one’s actions of demonstrating their grievances (White, 2012). Psychology explains an individual’s deviant behaviors, such as dysfunction, mental disease, or disorder. Some assumptions posed by psychology theories indicate that terrorists may not be psychologically normal, but this has been discredited. Most are said to have antisocial behaviors. One of the theoretical sociological perspectives that can be used to understand terrorism is conflict theory.

Conflict theory

Conflict theory on terrorism is somehow opposing compared to functionalism. According to conflict theory, terrorist groups are always fighting, making territories, and recruiting more members to join their groups. They mostly believe their actions are good since some are doing it to protect their religion, and others are due to social or political ideologies and hence view it as a way to look for justice (The University of Minnesota, 2016). Imperialism is a view of conflict theory. In this, terrorists are viewed as struggling for control and power, and hence despite the leaders saying they are fighting for the benefit of the group, it is always a hidden selfish reason behind all the actions. The conflict theory view also criticizes the amount of money spent to finance these activities, which leads to destruction, deaths, and underdevelopment in the regions affected (Park, 1941).

Data Collection and Analysis

During the 1970s and 1980s, terrorists were thought to be wasting their time if they used mass destruction weapons because doing so was universally seen as wrong. Researchers’ believed terrorists loved terrifying people and hence wanted those to watch their doings and be afraid accordingly comply with their demands. Most terrorists in the past eras mainly had agendas that were nationally and politically different (Hudson, 1999). Over the past three decades, however, terrorism trends the thought of groups using weapons of mass destruction. The most significant surge has been seen in the past fifty years in terrorism activities. In 2021, Islamic State performed the deadliest attack. The suicide bomber used two suicide bombs at the international airport in Afghanistan, Kabul. The bombing resulted in approximately 170 deaths and more than 190 injured (Global terrorism index, 2022). The Islamic State and its affiliate groups in Khorasan, Sinai, and West Africa had the most attack records in 2021. Death caused by the Islamic State represents almost 30 percent of terrorist activities caused deaths that occurred in 2021 all over the world. This is a decrease from attacks performed in 2020, representing five present decreases.

Death caused by Islamic State attacks also decreased by about 3 percent from 2020 to 2021. Their attacks were in all parts of the world besides North America, Russia, and Eurasia. According to the Global Terrorism Index, 2022, the effects of the attacks have continued to decrease despite the increase in the occurrences of the attacks. Deaths caused by terrorism in 2021 fell to almost 7000, whereas the attacks increased by 1.8 percent, indicating terrorism has become less lethal. However, sub-Saharan Africa terrorism attacks remain a severe threat due to its high percentage of 48 overall deaths caused by terrorist activities.

In 2021,4 influential groups involved in terrorist activities include Islamic State, the Taliban, Al Shabab, and Jamaat Nusrat Al Islam Wal Muslimeen (Pandit,2022). During this particular year, almost 4000 people were killed in these attacks hence 44 percent of deaths. About 2800 deaths were, however, not linked to any terrorist organizations. Boko Haram was also among the deadliest organization in the previous years but was replaced by JNIM in 2021.

Most people identify these groups based on religious attachment since most are of Islamic origin (Cinoğlu, 2010). Since these terrorist organizations fail to achieve their unrealistic goals through conventional means, they tend to send a religious or ideological message to countries by attacking the public. Their targeted choice is always a symbolic representation of the nation they are targeting with their attacks. The selection enables them to establish an impact of high profile on their targeted public connected to their enemies or attack the enemies directly with their violent acts. One may think they do this because of unlimited materials, but the groups are well-equipped with equipment that enables them to perform their attacks effectively.

Through their attacks, they try to send messages to citizens, such as their government failing to protect them, or when they assassinate a person, it means the person did an evil thing that could not be accepted from their perspective. For instance, on 1981 October 6, Anwar Sadat, the president of Egypt, was assassinated by the Al Jihad terrorist group after he visited the historic city of Jerusalem (Horgan, 2017). The group wanted to show the world, and they mainly targeted Muslims, how a great mistake the Egyptian president made by visiting Jerusalem, and he was a Muslim. Al-Jihad viewed him as an inadequate representation of their Muslim religion and culture. Terrorism has been working due to fear the groups instill and the intimidation the public receives from terrorist organizations. For example, most people who were present during the terror attack in New York City on 9/11 were always terrified because of the attack and feared it even weeks after the attack.

Discussion and Conclusion

The attacks performed by terrorist groups have continued to cause sleepless nights to all governments worldwide. Better security strategies have consistently been implemented to curb these activities, but these groups mostly always find ways of performing these attacks. From a sociological theoretical perspective, conflict theory is competent in identifying conflicts that arise between nations and these groups, leading to these attacks. For this reason, there is a need for in-depth research to be done on the specific terrorist groups, what motivates them to such attacks, their ideology, structure, their process of making decisions, personality traits, and many other reasons that make the members believe in their doctrines despite the harm it causes. Further studies are also to be done that cut across places and times of the attacks.

There have been comparative studies that have been looking for conditions that make the terrorists’ activities rise, factors that lead to the success of their attacks, and their negotiations during hostage situations which also include political talks. There is also a need for the psychology of terrorism to go beyond focusing on recent attacks or predicting future attacks to develop a well-laid-out analysis of the terrorists’ attacks over time. The research should also identify psychological incentives that can lead to the terrorists abandoning their gravies acts. Terrorists have developed strategies for their planned attacks. This is also an exciting area of research as it will help in the identification of factors behind the innovative behaviors of the terrorists, which include taking hostages to make negotiations or even the decision to use weapons of mass destruction. Lastly, research must also be done on the counter-terrorism decision-making process. Here, the investigation should be based on the different policies and their impacts on other groups with different organizational structures, social relationships, and motivations. The study of terrorism psychological motivation and ending terrorist attacks should incorporate models that include individuals, society, and how the groups will be enticed to act morally in society by stopping the attacks.

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