NCJ Number
178129
Journal
International Journal of Risk, Security and Crime Prevention Volume: 2 Issue: 1 Dated: January 1997 Pages: 25-37
Date Published
January 1997
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This article considers what type of person is likely to become involved in terrorist activities.
Abstract
While most attempts at profiling terrorists imply some kind of psychological inadequacy or deviance, the paper argues that socioeconomic factors may be of far greater value than a psychological perspective in profiling terrorists, as terrorism has a clear socioeconomic basis. Identifying groups of people most likely to face a crisis in their socioeconomic position, particularly in the face of political change, could go a long way toward identifying who may become terrorists. The article discusses definitions of terrorists and terrorist targets and tactics. The classic terrorist is: (1) age 22-25, although leaders are 40-50; (2) male; (3) single; (4) of rural or urban origin; (5) middle or upper-middle class, with parents who had liberal sentiments but were frustrated in their own advancement and distrusted democratic institutions as a medium for change; (6) well educated; (7) recruited from universities; and (8) anarchist, Marxist-Leninist, or nationalist. Notes