Thomas J. Rankin.
The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio, USA
Terror and Suicide. Hauppauge, New York: Nova Science Publishers, 2009, 167 pages.

This chapter summarizes recent theories and evidence regarding suicide terrorism, especially highlighting the gaps in our knowledge base. Whereas ordinary suicide usually involves the intersection of stress and mental illness, the few available psychological profiles of suicide terrorists do not provide support for the idea that they are mentally unbalanced. Instead, the picture that emerges is complex: individual motivation can be political, religious, personal, or a combination of the three, and individual motivation must be understood in the context of the particular culture, religion (or lack thereof), terrorist organization, and circumstances of war in which the individual finds himself or herself. The vast majority of suicide attackers are part of an organization with defined political and/or religious goals. Those organizations tend to act in militarily and economically rational ways, utilizing suicide terrorism when conventional or guerilla military tactics against a superior fighting force have failed. As terrorist organizations worldwide have learned that suicide attacks can be more effective in achieving goals, the prevalence of suicide terrorism has increased. Likewise, as governments have responded with military crackdowns against terrorist organizations, surviving organizations have needed to adapt: they have developed horizontal rather than vertical organizational structures; they have come to rely on familial and friendship ties within small cells; and some organizations have expanded the role of women to include financial positions of influence and even female suicide attackers. Faced with this level of organizational complexity, religious and political differences, and the variety of individual and cultural motivations, it is suggested that we must become aware of the full extent of our ignorance before passing judgment on the seemingly horrific actions of suicide terrorists.