NCJ Number
101842
Date Published
1985
Length
125 pages
Annotation
This study develops a conceptual framework for analyzing terrorist groups and uses it to test several hypotheses regarding terrorist groups and their actions.
Abstract
The conceptual framework encompasses 150 attributes of terrorist groups. These attributes are in the broad categories of organization; leadership; demography; ideology, doctrine, and goals; psychology, mindset, and decisionmaking; funding and logistics; operations and modus operandi; communications; external relations; and environment and government response. Data were obtained on the attributes of 29 terrorist groups up to June 1985. Extensive chronologies of incidents attributed to the groups were developed beginning with 1980; some earlier incidents dating back as far as 1968 were included as well. The data base was applied to identify possible perpetrators of an unclaimed terrorist attack or one claimed by several groups. By grouping all past terrorist events with known perpetrators, according to various combinations of particular factors (location, tactic, target type and nationality, and number of casualties), the analysis determined the proportion of times a particular group was the perpetrator of a particular type of incident. The conceptual framework was also applied to the identification of groups most likely to attack American targets, using information on cultural factors, ideology, motivations, and past activity. The study explored various ways in which the analytical framework could be used to develop new methodologies, comparing terrorist groups on lethality as an illustrative case. Tabular and graphic data; study instruments.