JUS-212 Rational choice PDF

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rational choice - islamic jihadists...

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Rational Choice and Islamic Jihadist Terrorists Based on what is known about Islamic Jihadist terrorists that they are making deliberate rational choices when they are deciding to commit an act of terrorism. This idea is based on Islamic texts that have been used to promote the act of suicide, it is thought that the act of committing suicide will help a person to reach the highest level of jihad, and will receive many personal and social rewards if they are successful. According to martyrdom, death caused by suicide is considered to be done in the name of “the Glory of God”, and thought to be a sacrificial act as it is God's will. As said by Palestinian Mufti Sheikh Ikrimi Sabri “The Muslim loves death and strives for martyrdom”. They do not view suicide as forbidden but instead, it means that they will continue to live in paradise. It is viewed that he who commits suicide is committing a sacrifice for his religion and his nation and that the martyr will receive personal rewards from God. All of this can be seen as motivation to a martyr in the decision relating to committing the act of suicide (Perry & Hasisi, 2006).

Religious Motivations of Terrorists and Rational Choice Theory These rewards can fall under the categories of social, personal, and religious and are described as compensations from God for sacrificing their life or land. In the testimony, Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab an unsuccessful suicide bomber had said that the pursuit of jihad and becoming a martyr is completely based on a decision-making process (Perry & Hasisi, 2014). Not only do the martyrs receive rewards but their families will as well, the family of he who commits an act of martyrdom will receive an update in status and even financial rewards from $10,000 to $25,000. The belief that martyrs will receive all these personal rewards is ingrained into their minds at the start of their recruitment up until the attack. After the passing of the martyr, there are typically celebrations thrown in their honor, that will include juices and desserts

listen in the martyr's will, so to them, they will be celebrated both in paradise and on Earth for their actions. The biggest cost of the act of martyrdom is the despair and sadness of the family that was left behind (Leenaars, 2010).

Rational Choice & the War on Terrorism A geometric model was done by two men by the names of Frey and Luechinger's, it is the theory that terrorists choose to either commit terrorism or to do any other activity. This model is based on the idea that a potential change in “price” or rewards may generate a quantity change in the same direction as a similar activity (Anderton & Carter, 2006). Over the years there have been multiple times that rational choice theorists have tried to compartmentalize the factors of terrorism, these include actor-specific rationalities, the rationality of the causes, rationality of the strategic actions of the terrorists, and the thinking behind the motives of these terrorists. The research that has been and is still being collected today can be greatly beneficial in trying to find methods of deterring those who believe in the Islamic teachings from committing this act.

Anderton, C. H., & Carter, J. R. (2006). ON RATIONAL CHOICE THEORY AND THE STUDY OF TERRORISM. Retrieved from https://www-tandfonline-com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/doi/full/10.1080/1024269052000344864

Peri, S., & Hasisi, B. (2006). Rational Choice Rewards and the Jihadist Suicide Bomber. Retrieved from https://www-tandfonline-com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/doi/full/10.1080/09546553.2014.962991

Leenaars, A. A. (2006). Altruistic Suicide: A Few Reflections. Retrieved from https://www-tandfonline-

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