Root Causes of Terrorism

Root Causes of Terrorism

• Presentation by
• Dr. Tore Bjørgo
• Senior Research Fellow,
• Norwegian Institute of International Affairs
• and
• Professor of Police Science,
• National Police Academy, Oslo

Invalidated myths about causes of terrorism:

• Poverty: There are only a weak and indirect relationships between poverty and terrorism

• State sponsorship of terrorism: not a root cause to terrorism, but an enabling factor

• Religious fanaticism: Suicidal terrorism is not caused by religion as such, but religion may give shape to and justification of political extremism

• Madness: Terrorists are not insane or irrational actors

Preconditions for terrorism:

• Lack of democracy, civil rights and the rule of law

• Failed or weak states

• Rapid modernization

• Illegitimate and corrupt governments

• Powerful external actors upholding corrupt regimes

• Extremist ideologies (secular or religious)

More preconditions for terrorism…

• Historical traditions of political violance, civil war, revolutions, dictatorship or occupation

• Hegemony and inequality in power

• Repression by foreign occupation or colonial powers

• Failure by the state to integrate dissident groups or emerging social classes

• The experience of social injustice

• The experience of discrimination on the basis of ethnic or religious origin

Precipitants of terrorism:

• The presence of charismatic ideological leaders

• Provocative events triggering violent responses

Factors sustaining terrorism:

• Terrorism may continue for other reasons than what gave birth to it, such as…

• The need of the group to provide for its members or for the survival of the group

• Profitable criminal activities

• No exit from violence and extremism

• Cycles of revenge

For more information…

• Check our
• Knowledge Base on Terrorism and International Crime:
• http://www.nupi.no/English/
• (click ”Research” on the top menu)