 An Analysis of Contemporary Terrorist Acts from the Perspective of Social, Cultural, and Religious Factors that Prevent their PreventionP. Stawarz, M. Szala, P. Bryczek-Wrobel and B. Wiaderek European Research Studies Journal, 2025, vol. XXVIII, issue 3, 390-406 Abstract: Purpose: While much emphasis is placed on the operational readiness of counter-terrorism forces, intelligence services, and crisis management structures, this article focuses on identifying additional factors—structural, social, political, and psychological—that can either hinder or support the prevention of terrorist acts. Such a multifaceted approach is essential for developing more resilient and adaptive security systems. Design/methodology/approach: This article adopts a qualitative research approach grounded in the triangulation of methods. Three primary methodologies were employed: source analysis, factor analysis, and comparative analysis. Source analysis was used to examine relevant academic literature, policy documents, and empirical research on the socio-cultural and religious determinants of terrorism and radicalization. Factor analysis was applied to identify and structure the key variables that hinder the effectiveness of counter-terrorism efforts, with particular emphasis on those contributing to community-level support for terrorist acts. Comparative analysis served to assess the relative influence and interaction of these determinants across different societal contexts, including migrant communities, stateless populations, and politically isolated states. The integrative analytical framework enabled the identification of patterns of correlation among social, cultural, and religious variables, thus allowing for the verification of the initial hypothesis regarding the multifactorial nature of support for terrorism and the structural conditions that undermine preventive counter-terrorism operations. Findings: Terrorism, alongside conventional warfare, ranks among the most destructive and lethal forms of human activity, characterized by the intentional use of violence to achieve ideological, political, or religious objectives. Unlike warfare, which may follow established rules of engagement, terrorism often deliberately targets civilians and critical infrastructure to sow fear, destabilize societies, and influence decision-making processes. Practical implications: The ultimate aim of every terrorist is the successful execution of an attack, which, when realized, often indicates a serious breakdown or shortcoming in the functioning of institutions tasked with ensuring national and public security. Therefore, understanding and addressing the conditions that either facilitate or prevent such acts is of fundamental importance. Originality value: This article offers an original and interdisciplinary perspective on the effectiveness of counter-terrorism efforts by shifting the analytical focus from operational and tactical readiness to the broader sociocultural and religious environment in which terrorism develops. While most existing research emphasizes institutional responses, intelligence capabilities, or crisis management protocols, this study identifies and analyzes the structural and psychosocial conditions that facilitate or hinder the prevention of terrorist attacks. By integrating insights from sociology, cultural studies, and religious anthropology, the article proposes a multifactorial model explaining how community-based attitudes and beliefs shape the operational space of terrorist actors. The value of the article lies in its comprehensive, system-level approach that highlights the cumulative impact of societal determinants—often overlooked in mainstream security discourse—on the vulnerability or resilience of communities to terrorist radicalization and activity. This novel framework contributes to both academic understanding and the practical formulation of more socially informed counter-terrorism strategies. Keywords: Terrorist acts; social factors; cultural factors; religious factors; national security; public safety. (search for similar items in EconPapers) Downloads: (external link) Related works: Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ers:journl:v:xxviii:y:2025:i:3:p:390-406 Access Statistics for this article More articles in European Research Studies Journal from European Research Studies Journal |
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