Abstract
The present article outlines the role of personal, social, and cultural identity in religiously and ethnically motivated terrorism. It is proposed that terrorism represents the confluence of a cultural identity strongly based in collectivism and in fundamentalist adherence to religious or cultural principles, a social identity based in sharp contrasts between one's own group and groups perceived as threats, and a foreclosed and authoritarian sense of personal identity or, less often, a diffused and aimless personal identity. Examples from religious-extremist and ethnic conflicts in which terrorism has been employed are used to illustrate the tenets advanced here. Recommendations for addressing and preventing the threat of terrorism are discussed.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 537-559 |
| Number of pages | 23 |
| Journal | Studies in Conflict and Terrorism |
| Volume | 32 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jun 1 2009 |
Fingerprint
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Political Science and International Relations
- Sociology and Political Science
- Safety Research
- Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality
Cite this
Terrorism : An identity theory perspective. / Schwartz, Seth J; Dunkel, Curtis S.; Waterman, Alan S.
In: Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, Vol. 32, No. 6, 01.06.2009, p. 537-559.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Terrorism
T2 - An identity theory perspective
AU - Schwartz, Seth J
AU - Dunkel, Curtis S.
AU - Waterman, Alan S.
PY - 2009/6/1
Y1 - 2009/6/1
N2 - The present article outlines the role of personal, social, and cultural identity in religiously and ethnically motivated terrorism. It is proposed that terrorism represents the confluence of a cultural identity strongly based in collectivism and in fundamentalist adherence to religious or cultural principles, a social identity based in sharp contrasts between one's own group and groups perceived as threats, and a foreclosed and authoritarian sense of personal identity or, less often, a diffused and aimless personal identity. Examples from religious-extremist and ethnic conflicts in which terrorism has been employed are used to illustrate the tenets advanced here. Recommendations for addressing and preventing the threat of terrorism are discussed.
AB - The present article outlines the role of personal, social, and cultural identity in religiously and ethnically motivated terrorism. It is proposed that terrorism represents the confluence of a cultural identity strongly based in collectivism and in fundamentalist adherence to religious or cultural principles, a social identity based in sharp contrasts between one's own group and groups perceived as threats, and a foreclosed and authoritarian sense of personal identity or, less often, a diffused and aimless personal identity. Examples from religious-extremist and ethnic conflicts in which terrorism has been employed are used to illustrate the tenets advanced here. Recommendations for addressing and preventing the threat of terrorism are discussed.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=70449698343&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=70449698343&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/10576100902888453
DO - 10.1080/10576100902888453
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:70449698343
VL - 32
SP - 537
EP - 559
JO - Studies in Conflict and Terrorism
JF - Studies in Conflict and Terrorism
SN - 1057-610X
IS - 6
ER -