NCJ Number
101327
Date Published
1986
Length
180 pages
Annotation
This study examines how two variables of transnational terrorism, the presence of coalitions and the size of the acting terrorist group, affect the transnational terrorist act.
Abstract
Eleven study hypotheses pertain to the relationships of terrorist group size to the nature and consequences of the terrorist act. They focus on the relationship of terrorist coalitions to the characteristics of the terrorist act. Data for analyzing relationships were obtained from the 1982 revised version of the Interate data set constructed by Mickolus. Data were examined for 38 variables of the 3,329 transnational terrorist acts committed between 1968 and 1977. The usable data set for group size consisted of 769 cases. Among the findings relating to group size were that the most logistically difficult acts involved the largest average group size. Intermediate-sized groups were most likely to be involved in acts that resulted in victim deaths and injuries. Coalitions, defined as associations between a number of terrorist groups, were most likely to produce deaths and injuries. Coalitions generally have a short life span. The relevance of findings to policy is discussed. 210-item bibliography and subject index.