A growing disconnect: can the contemporary terrorism literature explain domestic homegrown terrorism?
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2012
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Abstract
The past several years have seen an increase in the number of Islamic inspired terrorist attacks targeting western democratic states. However, the individuals planning and conducting these attacks are not representatives or members of foreign terrorist groups. Instead, those perpetrating these attacks are citizens or long standing residents of those states and thus these attacks can be considered to be "domestic homegrown" terrorism. This dissertation examines this phenomenon and makes several observations. First, an indepth examination of the modem and contemporary terrorism literature and case study analysis reveals that domestic homegrown terrorism challenges our understanding and conceptualization of terrorism since these recent attacks cannot be explained by the lliterature. Domestic homegrown terrorist attacks demonstrate key differences among four elements emphasized in the literature: role of leadership, role of the organization, socialization and the group dynamic. Second, this dissertation creates a definition of domestic homegrown terrorism which can serve as a basis for further discussion and analysis. Third, it identifies why the distinction and definition of domestic homegrown terrorism is important for those in the field of terrorism studies as well as government officials and policymakers. Domestic homegrown terrorism represents a growing threat and this dissertation provides a framework for future discussions on how it is different from terrorism previously seen and some of the challenges its unique form may pose.
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Bibliography: p. 272-299
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Citation
Zekulin, M. G. (2012). A growing disconnect: can the contemporary terrorism literature explain domestic homegrown terrorism? (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/4932