Cross-Cultural Determinants of Terrorism

Running head: CROSS-CULTURAL DETERMINANTS OF TERRORISM

Cross-Cultural Determinants of Terrorism

Mick C. Malkemus

Walden University
International/Cross-Cultural Issues in Organizations
PSYC-6756-001
Catherine Kwantes

Abstract

While the Psychology of Terrorism became an academic study in 1982, cultural influences on terrorism have yet to be widely studied (Brannan, Esler, & Strindberg, 2001). This paper attempts to understand why terrorism exists within cultural context; the cross-cultural factors might be involved. Orchestrated objectives within well-organized terrorist groups suggest that principles of organizational psychology apply to terrorist organizations, under the cultural influence of each one (Borum, 2004). There is much cause for optimism in understanding terrorist organizations, for as Alder and Gunderson (2008) write, “Luckily, we have learned that global complexity is neither unpredictable nor random” (p.v). The call for research has never been more pressing.

Introduction

“Terrorism is an elusive subject, evading precise political, jurisprudential, and cultural definition” (Oliveri, 2008, p.249). It depends upon the definition of ‘terrorism’. “With over 100 definitions, this is not an easy task; there is no common understanding of what constitutes ‘terrorism’; no clear and universally acknowledged definition actually exists” (Franks, 2007, p. 2). The definition Munger (2006) proposes that is used for this paper is, “Culture is defined as the set of ‘inherited’ beliefs, attitudes, and moral strictures that a people use to distinguish outsiders, to understand themselves and to communicate with each other” (p.131). The distinguishing characteristic of ‘them’ and ‘us’ is perhaps the fundamental belief generated within cultures that makes terrorism towards others possible. Whether viewed in terms of extremist Muslim culture or right-wing American culture, cultural identity supports the conflict of

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