8:30 am IST
Jul 18, 2011

Economy & Business

Economics Journal: What Drives an Indian Terrorist?

    • The basic assumption that every terrorist motivated only b griveancs is not correct. Of course there are grievances for sure, but there is he larger bigger motive of most terror organizations - Establishing a Islamic Theocratic state and belief that religion is bigger than the state. To acheive this they are willing to go to any extent. History is replete with such incidents & that must be closely looked at.
      Also, if one analyses riots that have taken place most of them have all been sparked by mattersof faith rather than socio-economic causes. What one canargue his ppl who pepetrate riots are larey from poorer backgrounds - but this is applicable to ppl of both faiths who are part of the riot

    • Interesting....although I wonder why Tibetans in China or Indians in Malaysia or Christians and Jews in Arab countries don't engage in terrorism, because the groups that I mentioned are siginificantly discriminated against and the discrimination is legally sanctioned. Almost in any country where Muslims are a minority, there is terrorism. Even in countries they are a majority there is terrorism because some people want a perfect Islamic state. Of course, different groups engage in violence - like the Hindu extremist organizations in India and the LTTE- but to understand the seemingly greater prevelance of terrorism among Muslims, one must understand the theological justifications for terrorism given by extremist Muslims - because the Islamists claim to be inspired by their religious ideology into violence.

    • While a root cause analysis to domestic terrorism/ organized violence would certainly be helpful, it is not absolutely necessary to establish that marginalization of specific communities is the key driving factor underlying anti-social behavior, in order to promote efforts aimed at integrating disenfranchised communities into the socio-economic mainstream. Regardless of the motives of the leaders of such groups, recruitment of foot-soldiers would definitely become difficult, if not impossible, if the level of disaffectedness were to be dramatically reduced.

    • Terrorist organizations are also about economics. Can anyone say for sure that politicians in cahoots with arms dealers and arms manufacturers are not the ones funding these venom spewing mullahs to bump up sales of their hardware (read arms and ammunitions)?

    • a similar attempt is being made by WB CM Mamta Bannerjee for the Jangal Mahal. Lets wish it success , then it can be followed in other violence inflicted states. Hopefully, there will success in Maoist led parts, because we all believe when there is peace, people donot get motivated to otherwise streets. God bless.

    • The main scholarly article that you have cited to suggest that economic discrimination is a factor motivating terrorists, is the work by Piazza ( I discount the suggestion of activists like Roy, which is merely ideological). This article states - in summary - that a minority group that perceives to be economically discriminated is more likely to engage in domestic terrorist incident. Let us examine this for a moment.

      Both scheduled castes and muslims in India are economically disadvantaged, and have the perception of being discriminated against. Therefore, based on just economic factors both these groups should have the same propensity of indulging in terrorist activities. We however see that whereas there are numerous incidences of muslim terrorists in India, there are no dalit terrorists per se. Similarly, in the context of the US, blacks are perceived to be discriminated against but that has not created black terror groups in the same vein as IM.

      To me, it suggests that economic discrimination, perceived or real, is not the primary factor that determines whether members of a minority group indulge in terrorism and may only be marginal. There seem to be stronger sociological factors, probably incitement through provocative literature and religious justification of terrorism, that drive terrorism.

    • @Ankit: What would you say about the Maoists? Are they upper middle class terrorists? As for African Americans, google the Black Panthers and your question will be answered.

    • Is there anything we as citizens can do to prevent terrorism???

    • Black Panther party was a violent movement, but it is not in the same vein as IM ( as I noted in my comment). It engaged in violence that is more in the vein of a mafia group and targeted mostly policem, rather than a mass terrorist organization such as IM. Note also that KKK was a much larger organization that flourished and operated insidiously in the era when white Americans were clearly the more prosperous group and openly discriminated against the African Americans. I don't see how economic discrimination, even the perception of it, played a role here.

      Regarding Maoists, there has not been sufficient research in my opinion. While the foot soldiers of maoists are clearly the poor, there is a definite case of incitement and/or ideological brainwashing. Again, the data is not on a very sure footing on this one.

    • @ankit check your facts on the KKK. They were not wealthy southern plantation owners but poor white landless labourers who felt disenfranchised after the civil war. A perception of social deprivation was certainly a root of the KKK movement whether that perception was real or not. And fyi Black Panthers in their heyday were considered a serious security threat. For context read Tom Wolfe's famous essay.

    • Chalta Hai!

    • Stirring up thoughts like this only tries to breed a very condoning atmosphere for acts like this. Irrespective of what sparks somebody or some group to commit a terrorist act, that person or party should be dealt with severely. (Tightening up security and intelligence is a whole other matter which Indians have been harping on time and again). There are other ways of bringing pressing issues to the fore front without harming anybody else. That's how society functions. Also, this theory of poverty being a reason is nothing but BS. Even statistically, a majority of them would not endorse such behaviour.
      And I can't help but concur with Vishal,
      "This author has not done proper research & blamed poverty for terrorism in India. Why does Wall Street Journal employ such ill-informed morons as writers? Was Osama Bin Laden poor? Infact, the demon was a multi-billionaire!"

    • Articles such as these feed the Terrorists by trying legitimize their behavior instead of seeking redress of grievances through democratic process. Indeed the so called Minorities have far more reservation based opportunities than some of the so called "forward classes" in the Majority community.

    • all terrorism in india is provoked by monotheistic religions.

      partition was nothing but ethnic cleansing by the muslims.

    • As you stated in your article researchers cannot find a correlation between affluence/poverty and terrorism. Please do not beat around the bush, ignore the facts and try to make a case that some perceived differences are the root cause of terrorism. Terrorists kill people in order to destabilize India and advance the rule of sharia law, as they have stated many times before. Just because it is crazy does not mean it is not true. They marry their own cousins after all so they are bound to be crazy.

    • Rupa Subramanya Dehejia.
      Every article by you is known to contain extensive lack of verifiable facts.
      And to boot, you adopt a favorable position regarding contrarian takes on current issues.
      This of course, is your calculated attempt to receive the highest number of clicks.
      The next article, should be one to totally dispense with the veneer of calling these murderers,
      by the handle of 'terrorists', and elevate them in one fell swoop to the rank of 'freedom fighters.'.
      Shame on you.

    • Chalta Hai and JUGAAD!

    • Rupa: With respect, you are totally off base on KKK. KKK was (is) a white supremacist organization that feeds on the notion that white people have some kind of exalted status as compared to African Americans. KKK was a case of plain hatred and bigotry, and nothing else. Of course, some people have tried to provide justifications such as the threat to "southern way of life" as a result of integration between races but it is baloney.

      I am aware that economists try to look for economic reasons behind every social phenomenon, but sometimes economics is just not the over-riding factor. It is better to accept it instead of looking for the ghosts when there are none.

      Thanks for engaging.

    • Dear Rupa,
      Dont they openly declare that they are doing a religious duty? What do their religion and their "religious scholars" tell them. Please study the Koran and the Hadiths and you will find your answer. Any Hindu violence is mostly reactionary and only when exasperation reaches its limit.

    • The steps to being a good Muslim
      * Jihad is the first duty, the most highest
      * The whole world must be converted
      * Know Allah will punish you if you dont fight
      * You must fight all infidels around you & be ruthless with them
      * You may use any means at your disposal to fight
      * And if you are killed fighting, Allah will take you into paradise

    • Islam promotes learning in suicide bombings, hijackings, beheadings, torture and rape of women, jehad against non muslims. Islam is a death cult worshipping only death

    • The so called discrimination fails to hold any water - why is there so much Muslim-on-Muslim violence in Pakistan where there is no minority tospeak of? Why is there little violence in Tibet and Malaysia where the treatment of minorities nothing short of appalling? We are pussyfooting round the issue and as long as we continue to do it, the problem will remain unaddressed. The partition left India with the lowest rung of Muslims without any credible leadership and the void was promptly filled by the uneducated demagogues who ruled the masjids. They have found new found strength after oil-fed riches started accruing to the middle eastern potentates who in order to divert attention from their shortcomings started financing international Muslim movements, including in India. The lack of opportunities is more a result of their own "ghetto-isation" than due to active discrimination. The less we talk about Sachar Commission the better.
      By continuing to pussy foot around the key reasons why Muslims have not progressed and by apportioning blame to the majority community, we are missing the point and will continue to miss it.

    • Those who advocate a co relation between poverty and terrorism are as great a threat to the world as the terrorists themselves. They provide the intellectual fodder to the Jihadi terrorists. Naturally, the Jihadi terrorists love to hear a rationalization of their barbaric behavior. The author advances a view which clearly implies that as long as poverty, economic disparities and some type of injustices prevail within nations, terrorism will thrive no matter what. I am surprised that a reputed daily like the Wall Street Journal would employ a journalist who preaches such an absurd notion. If her theory is true, then all the poor Hindus, Buddhists and Christians would be roaming around the world exploding bombs in crowded areas of thickly populated cities. How does she handle the naked truth that most terrorists are well educated and come from middle class families in their respective societies?

      Governments around the world have started taking action against those who "finance terror". The time is ripe for concerned governments to take action against those who "rationalize terror" and thereby help promote a culture of Jihad. In my opinion, the rationalization of terror is more dangerous than the financing of terror because once convinced of the legitimacy of their mission, the Jihadis will secure the funds them selves.

    • Promoting the fabrication that jihadists hail from impoverished backgrounds is irresponsible and contrary to reputable research on the topic. Princeton professor, Dr. Alan Krueger, in his book "What Make a Terrorist," wrote that "As a group, terrorists are better educated and from wealthier families than the typical person in the same age group in the societies from which they originate."

      Examples abound. Times Square bomber, Faisal Shehzad, is the son of a senior Pakistani air force officer. The underwear bomber, Umar Farouk Abdulmuttalab, is the son of a Nigerian banker. The 9-11 hijackers were all middle class and above and educated as are the majority of detainees at GITMO. The Glasgow airport attack was perpetrated by Dr. Bilal Abdulla and Kafeel Ahmed, an engineer. Khalid Sheik Mohammed was a mechanical engineer and Mohammed Atef was a Egyptian police officer.

      There is absolutely no truth to the tired assertion that scapegoats poverty for jihadism. Promulgating this fictional tie with socioeconomic status is disingenuous and unconscionable.

    • @janetlevy and others who make a similar point.
      Please read what I have to say more carefully. I in fact cite Professor Krueger's work who's skeptical of the link between socioeconomic status and terrorism. Must distinguish terrorist leaders from recruits. Piazza piece in particular relevant for this distinction.

    • India is a State Sponsor of Terrorism and uses Terrorism as State Policy.

      Lt. Col Prasad Srikant Purohit, a serving Hindu officer in the Indian Army, admitted to using Indian military RDX explosives in multiple terrorist bombings in India, including but not limited to Malegoan, Ajmeer, Sumjuhota Express. These terrorist bombings were then used by the Indian government to round up and arrest and torture and kill thousands of Muslims in India.

      Nathuram Godse, was a member of the RSS Hindu Terrorist group, who shot and killed Gandhi in 1948. Lt. Col Purohit is a member of the RSS Hindu Terrorist group that has been operating openly in India since 1925 (86 years of Hindu Terrorism).

      Narendra Modi, Governor of Gujarat and a Hindu, advocated and led riots against Muslims in Gujarat. An elected Hindu official killing Muslims in his own province... and he is still Governor.

      The RSS and Siva Sena are Hindu Terrorist Groups that have penetrated all levels of the Indian Government and Indian military. Hindu Terrorists now create official Indian state policy.

      RAW, India's Hindu intelligence agency, created the world's first suicide bomb vest, not Muslims in the Middle East. India then provided these suicide bomb vests to the Hindu Tamil Tigers terrorist group to kill Buddhist and Christian civilians in Sri Lanka.

      These Hindu terrorists have assassinated two world leaders; Rajiv Gandhi, PM of India (suicide attack in 1991) and Ranasinghe Premadasa, President of Sri Lanka (also suicide attack in 1991). Most of the world's suicide bombers are Hindus! The Tamil Tigers (LTTE) conducted weekly suicide bombings in Sri Lanka for over 30 years.

      Hindu Swami Aseemanand, member of RSS Hindu Terrorist group, admitted to organizing a Hindu Terrorist cell that committed the Sumjuhota Express train bombing of Pakistani Muslims, and again the blame was placed on innocent Muslims - who were tortured and killed by the Indian Hindu police.

      This is ALL FACT.

      So, what we should all learn is that India is a Fascist State run by Hindu Terrorists.

      Boycott India.

      July 18, 2005 - The American Conservative



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