Assess the geography of terrorist attacks using rational choice theory

Document Type : علمی - پژوهشی

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Abstract

Terrorism and terrorist attacks are now one of the world's fundamental challenges in the 21st century. The growth and expansion of this phenomenon in recent decades has led to its various dimensions to be evaluated by experts in various fields. Meanwhile, one of the important dimensions of terrorist attacks is the location and geographical space under attack. The main question in this study is whether terrorists attack certain places according to rational criteria? Terrorists seem to target specific places and spaces based on rational criteria such as inflicting heavy casualties, symbolic nature, intimidation, and media attention. In addition, they try to use the method and technique that is most likely to succeed in attacking their targets. In this research, which has been done by descriptive-analytical method, an attempt has been made to identify, evaluate, evaluate and analyze the logic of terrorist attacks in choosing the place of attack and the method used, using the theory of rational choice. The results of this study show that most terrorist attacks are carried out in the form of bombings in public places, in armed infrastructure using armed attacks and bombings, and in political places in the form of suicide, because attacks on these places are the most profitable. And it has the lowest cost for terrorists.

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