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Theorising Terrorism: A Scoping Study

This work makes a clear and unprecedented case as to why terrorism can be explained as any other form of crime, and puts forward the rigorous foundations for a systematic research agenda on terrorism. In a weakly conceptual, localised and fragmented field, this work sets out an explicit definition of terrorism, and an innovative theoretical model of the causes of terrorist acts. In doing so, it tackles many of the obstacles that have prevented the emergence of a general theory of terrorism up to this point, and by extension of a scientific knowledge-base capable of supporting policy.

This work is the result of a project commissioned by the Ministry of Defence, Science and Technology Counter-Terrorism Centre, to provide a scientific framework capable of supporting the so-called “Hearts and Minds” strategy, notably in situations where forces face suicide terrorism. On the basis of this conceptual model, further work was commissioned by the UK Home Office in support of the Prevent strand of the Counter-Terrorism Strategy (CONTEST).