Bruce Schneier argues that the current model of terrorism is an economic one where terror seeks political utility from its actions. Schneier points out that there are seven habits of terrorism which break that model. Instead he quotes a paper by Max Abrahms which argues that terrorism has a social vector:
Abrahms has an alternative model to explain all this: People turn to terrorism for social solidarity. He theorizes that people join terrorist organizations worldwide in order to be part of a community, much like the reason inner-city youths join gangs in the United States.Terrorism is obviously effective politically; governments clamp down on all sorts of behaviours and freedoms in response, but it may be that the terrorists themselves do not see this as a goal. They are just seeking social intimacy which unfortunately comes through arbitrary violence. Loneliness is not a new social phenomenon despite those that would protest that modernization is creating new and heightened levels of alienation. Being lonely is part of the human condition. (reply)
