What Makes a Terrorist : Economics and the Roots of Terrorism / Alan B. Krueger.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Krueger, Alan B., author.

Series:

Lionel Robbins lectures.

Lionel Robbins lectures

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Terrorism--Economic aspects.

Terrorism.

Terrorists.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (207 p.)

Edition:

New edition with a New afterword by the author

Place of Publication:

Princeton, NJ : Princeton University Press, [2008]

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Many popular ideas about terrorists and why they seek to harm us are fueled by falsehoods and misinformation. Leading politicians and scholars have argued that poverty and lack of education breed terrorism, despite the wealth of evidence showing that most terrorists come from middle-class, and often college-educated, backgrounds. In What Makes a Terrorist, Alan Krueger argues that if we are to correctly assess the root causes of terrorism and successfully address the threat, we must think more like economists do. Krueger is an influential economist who has applied rigorous statistical analysis to a range of tough issues, from the minimum wage and education to the occurrence of hate crimes. In this book, he explains why our tactics in the fight against terrorism must be based on more than anecdote and speculation. Krueger closely examines the factors that motivate individuals to participate in terrorism, drawing inferences from terrorists' own backgrounds and the economic, social, and political conditions in the societies from which they come. He describes which countries are the most likely breeding grounds for terrorists, and which ones are most likely to be their targets. Krueger addresses the economic and psychological consequences of terrorism. He puts the terrorist threat squarely into perspective, revealing how our nation's sizeable economy is diverse and resilient enough to withstand the comparatively limited effects of most terrorist strikes. And he calls on the media to be more responsible in reporting on terrorism. What Makes a Terrorist brings needed clarity to one of the greatest challenges of our time.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Preface

Introduction

1. Who Becomes a Terrorist? Characteristics of Individual Participants in Terrorism

2. Where Does Terror Emerge? Economic and Political Conditions and Terrorism

3. What Does Terrorism Accomplish? Economic, Psychological, and Political Consequences of Terrorism

Questions and Answers: Following the Lectures

Afterword

References

Index

Notes:

Originally published: 2007.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 08. Jul 2019)

ISBN:

1-282-15903-8

9786612159039

1-4008-2883-X

OCLC:

440805307