Mobilization to Jihadi Violence: A Mixed-Method Investigation into the Behaviors of Plotters

• In Event: Examining Forms of Ideologically-Motivated Violence in America

Abstract

While the number of violent attacks committed by jihadists has increased since 9/11, more violent plots have been foiled by law enforcement than were successfully executed in the United States over the last two decades. So, how do foiled jihadist plotters compare to those who successfully execute their attacks? To answer this question, the current study examines how critical life events and other milestones along radicalization pathways and mobilization to violence compare for radical Islamic terrorists (or “jihadists”) whose plots were foiled and those who were ultimately successful. Using data from the American Terrorism Study (ATS), we conduct a mixed-method investigation of how configurations of structured behaviors and qualitative narratives of radicalization processes compare across successful and unsuccessful jihadist plots. We discuss our findings and their implications for terrorism prevention strategies.

Authors

• Rebecca Kate Simpson, University of Arkansas

• Jeff Gruenewald, University of Arkansas