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Article
Publication date: 13 May 2019

Lorraine Bowman Grieve, Marek Palasinski and Neil Shortland

The purpose of this paper is to explore the concept of vengeance as a terrorist motivator.

202

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the concept of vengeance as a terrorist motivator.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper takes a community psychological perspective to examine vengeance in a number of forms. First covering “blood vengeance”, it then examines vigilantism and death squads as functional examples of vengeful entities, as well as the morality of vengeance and the impact of propaganda on vengeance as a terrorist motivator. Finally, both group processes and individual factors relating to the promotion and use of vengeance in terrorism are covered.

Findings

Vengeance can be conceptualised in a number of ways: as a predisposing factor to individual involvement, a factor that contributes to keeping the movement “bound” together (but which can also negatively affect the group’s strategic logic), a factor in the escalation of violent activity through vigilantism, retribution and retaliation which can result in a perpetuation of a cycle of violence, and as a moral mandate that is ideologically rationalised and justified, with perceptions of righteousness and obligation inherent to it.

Research limitations/implications

The presented research is limited by the scarcely available data.

Practical implications

Efforts should be made to defuse vengeful motivations by tapping into collective identities of communities and incorporating multicultural values.

Social implications

Policy makers should be wary of scoring populist scores by ridiculing out-group/religious elements as that creates potential for vengeful terror attacks.

Originality/value

The paper offers insights by renewing the neglected perspective of vengeance in terrorism research.

Details

Safer Communities, vol. 18 no. 3/4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1757-8043

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Article
Publication date: 8 August 2018

Viktoria Gallova, Marek Palasinski, Neil Shortland, Michael Humann and Lorraine Bowman Grieve

The purpose of this paper is to determine the potential predictors of anxiety about digital security, terrorist threats and support for high-tech counter measures.

467

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine the potential predictors of anxiety about digital security, terrorist threats and support for high-tech counter measures.

Design/methodology/approach

In Study 1, 195 participants indicated their anxiety about digital security systems, data protection and social networking sites. In Study 2, 107 participants indicated their anxiety about domestic terrorism, international terrorism and extremist groups. In Study 3, 261 participants indicated their support for high-tech counter-terrorism measures.

Findings

Study 1 suggests that whereas anxiety about digital security systems, data protection and social networking sites was positively predicted by right-wing authoritarianism, anxiety about social networking was also negatively predicted by time spent online. Study 2 shows that time spent online was a negative predictor of anxiety about domestic terrorism. Study 3 indicates that the strongest positive predictor of support for all the measures was right-wing authoritarianism, followed by national identity.

Research limitations/implications

The findings show the relevance of terror management theory to digital security and counter-terrorism.

Practical implications

It appears that right-wing authoritarianism and national identity may serve as mechanisms for people to subjectively counter the presented threats. This notion may inform relevant policy and practice aimed at making communities safer and potentially helps introduce counter-terror measures with less public backlash.

Social implications

When designing counter-terror measures, policy makers should consider compound national identities (e.g. Catalan or Basque people).

Originality/value

The paper makes contribution to under-explored areas of terrorism anxiety and support for counter-terror measures.

Details

Safer Communities, vol. 17 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1757-8043

Keywords

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Book part
Publication date: 25 November 2024

James Hawdon

This chapter examines how the pandemic altered exposure to online hate. We investigate if the pandemic affected previously observed patterns of exposure to online hate in Finland…

Abstract

This chapter examines how the pandemic altered exposure to online hate. We investigate if the pandemic affected previously observed patterns of exposure to online hate in Finland and the United States. We ask, did online hate become more prevalent as the pandemic unfolded and became increasingly politicized? It is important to consider online hate exposure in the early stages of the pandemic because the pandemic fanned the flames of hate. This increase in hate can then lead to fewer people complying with recommended health-protective behaviors and increases in hate crimes, which would increase the overall toll of the pandemic. Thus, this chapter explores if the landscape of online hate in the United States and Finland changed in the initial stages of COVID-19. Initially, rates of exposure were higher in Finland than in the United States, and, as predicted, rates of exposure increased between April and November 2020. However, this increase was observed only in the United States. The increase in exposure in the United States combined with the stability in exposure in Finland resulted in the country differences that were observed in April disappearing by November. The chapter concludes by exploring the likely role of the political leaders of the two nations played in this pattern of online hate exposure. Specifically, President Trump’s use of racialized descriptions of the pandemic are contrast to Prime Minister Marion’s more scientific descriptions to demonstrate how policy rhetoric can encourage or discourage online hate.

Details

Perceptions of a Pandemic: A Cross-Continental Comparison of Citizen Perceptions, Attitudes, and Behaviors During Covid-19
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-83608-625-3

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Book part
Publication date: 6 July 2020

John Fenwick and Lorraine Johnston

Abstract

Details

Leading Local Government: The Role of Directly Elected Mayors
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-83909-650-1

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