Growth opportunities in American and British terrorism research

Authors

Sophia Moskalenko
Joshua D. Freilich
Steven Chermak
Jeff Gruenewald
Clark McCauley, Bryn Mawr CollegeFollow

Document Type

Article

Version

Author's Final Manuscript

Publication Title

Dynamics of Asymmetric Conflict

Volume

16

Publication Date

2023

Abstract

This paper identifies what we see as opportunities to improve data collection, analysis, and interpretation of findings in American and British terrorism research. We suggest seven directions that we see as promising. These include: 1) interview methods and reporting, 2) source reporting in database studies, prioritizing available court records, 3) more comparison groups, including non-offender activists for the same cause and non-political offenders, 4) comparison of cases with and without confidential informants, 5) extremist ideas and extremist violence studied as separate problems, 6) more attention to grievances, avoiding controversies over defining ideology and narrative, and 7) more attention to emotions of terrorists, their supporters, and their victims.

Citation

Moskalenko, S., Freilich, J. D., Chermak, S., Gruenewald, J., & McCauley, C. (2023). Growth opportunities in American and British terrorism research. Dynamics of Asymmetric Conflict, 16(1), 44–69. https://doi.org/10.1080/17467586.2023.2187072.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1080/17467586.2023.2187072