TERRORISM: A NEW FRAMEWORK FOR ANALYSIS

This article proposes a new and more comprehensive framework for the analysis of the phenomenon of terrorism. It critiques the often-simplistic and state-centric definitions that have dominated the field of terrorism studies. The study argues for a multi-dimensional framework that analyzes terrorism not just as a tactic of violence, but as a complex social and political phenomenon. The proposed framework includes several key levels of analysis. These are the individual level (the motivations of the terrorist), the group level (the organizational dynamics of terrorist groups), the state level (the role of state sponsorship or state weakness), and the international level (the impact of global political and economic structures). The paper also emphasizes the need to understand terrorism as a "communication strategy," a form of violent political theater designed to send a message to a wider audience. The analysis concludes that a more nuanced and multi-causal analytical framework is essential for moving beyond simple condemnation and towards a deeper understanding of the root causes and dynamics of terrorism.

The study of terrorism is often hampered by a lack of conceptual clarity and analytical rigor. This paper seeks to address this gap by proposing a new and more comprehensive framework for analysis. The study begins by critically reviewing the major existing approaches to defining and studying terrorism, highlighting their limitations. The core of the article is the construction of a new, multi-level analytical framework. The first level of this framework is the individual, which explores the psychology and personal motivations that lead individuals to join terrorist groups. The second level is the organizational, which examines the internal structure, ideology, recruitment, and financing of terrorist organizations themselves. The third level is the societal and state context. This part of the framework analyzes the specific political, economic, and social grievances (the "root causes") within a society that can create a permissive environment for terrorism, and it also considers the role of the state, both in its repressive actions that can fuel radicalization and in its potential weakness that can allow terrorist groups to operate. The fourth and final level is the international system, which examines how global power politics, foreign interventions, and ideological currents can influence the rise and spread of transnational terrorism. The paper argues that a comprehensive analysis requires an integration of all these levels of analysis. It concludes by suggesting that by using such a framework, we can move towards a more sophisticated understanding of terrorism that is essential for the development of more effective and sustainable counter-terrorism policies.