A comparison of global suicide terrorism by region before and after 9/11 terrorist attacks

Purpose This study aims to examine the effect of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on suicide terrorism in different regions of the world and changes in the trends in suicide terrorism according to regions before and after 9/11. Design/methodology/approach Using the data obtained from the Global Terrorism Database from 1981 to 2019, the descriptive statistics were computed first and then, independent samples t -tests were run to compare the monthly mean percentage of suicide-terrorism incidents that occurred in each region between the pre-9/11 and the post-9/11 periods. Finally, to statistically assess the effect of the 9/11 attacks and changes in the trends for the dependent variables over time, monthly interrupted time-series analyzes were conducted. Findings The results of monthly interrupted time series analyzes showed that after the 9/11 attacks, the trends for suicide-terrorism rates decreased significantly in three regions including South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa and Europe, while the trend for suicide-terrorism rates increased significantly in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, no statistically significant changes in the trends in suicide-terrorism rates occurred in three regions including North America, East Asia and Central Asia and Southeast Asia before 9/11, during November 2001 or after 9/11. Originality/value This study indicates the critical importance of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in suicide terrorism and its impact on these events in different regions of the world. The research also provides some recommendations concerning the effectiveness of defensive and offensive counterterrorism policies against suicide terrorism

Criminology · Development economics · Economics · Geography · Offensive · Operations research · Political science · Socioeconomics · Sociology · Terrorism · Demography · Engineering · Migration, Health and Trauma · Psychology · Suicide and Self-Harm Studies · Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political Violence

• Unveiling drivers of successful terrorist incidents in the U.S

  Mustafa Demir, Abdurrahim Güler•Behavioral Sciences of Terrorism…•2025

  Incluir item

• Predictors of successful terrorism incidents

  Mustafa Demir, Abdurrahim Güler et al.•Behavioral Sciences of Terrorism…•2022

  Incluir item

• Macroeconomic consequences of terror

  Open Access•Zvi Eckstein, Daniel Tsiddon•Journal of Monetary Economics•2004

  Incluir item

• Conducting Interrupted Time-series Analysis for Single- and Multiple-group Comparisons

  Open Access•Ariel Linden•The Stata Journal: Promoting…•2015

  Incluir item

• The macroeconomic consequences of terrorism

  Open Access•S Brock Blomberg, Gregory D Hess et al.•Journal of Monetary Economics•2004

  Incluir item

• The 9/11 Commission Report

  Richard A Falkenrath•International Security•2005

  Incluir item

• The effects of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on suicide terrorism

  Mustafa Demir, Abdurrahim Güler•Behavioral Sciences of Terrorism…•2021

  Incluir item

• Suicide Terrorism in Iraq

  Mohammed M Hafez•Studies in Conflict and Terrorism•2006

  Incluir item

• Illuminating the Global Suicide-Attack Network

  Benjamin Acosta, Steven Childs et al.•Studies in Conflict and Terrorism•2012

  Incluir item

• The moral logic and growth of suicide terrorism

  Atran, Scott Atran•The Washington Quarterly•2006

  Incluir item

• Societal Responses to Terrorist Attacks

  Seymour Spilerman, G Stecklov•Annual Review of Sociology•2009

  Incluir item

• The Nature of the Beast

  Victor Asal, R Karl Rethemeyer•The Journal of Politics•2008

  Incluir item

• After 9/11

  Open Access•Walter Enders, Tod Sandler et al.•Journal of Conflict Resolution•2005

  Incluir item

• Regional Effects of Terrorism on Tourism in Three Mediterranean Countries

  Open Access•Konstantinos Drakos, Κωνσταντίνος Δράκος et al.•Journal of Conflict Resolution•2003

  Incluir item

• Distribution of Transnational Terrorism Among Countries by Income Class and Geography After 9/11

  Open Access•Walter Enders, Tod Sandler et al.•International Studies Quarterly•2006

  Incluir item

• Patterns of Transnational Terrorism, 1970-1999

  Walter Enders, Tod Sandler et al.•International Studies Quarterly•2002

  Incluir item

• Sabotaging the Peace

  Open Access•Andrew H Kydd, Andrew Kydd et al.•International Organization•2002

  Incluir item

• Nonstate Actors and the Diffusion of Innovations

  Open Access•Michael C Horowitz•International Organization•2010

  Incluir item

• The Rise and Spread of Suicide Bombing

  Michael C Horowitz•Annual Review of Political Science•2015

  Incluir item

• The Spread of Military Innovations

  Andrea Gilli, Mauro Gilli•Security Studies•2014

  Incluir item

• Palestinian Suicide Bombing Revisited

  Open Access•R Brym, Robert J Brym et al.•Political Science Quarterly•2008

  Incluir item

• A Situational Model of Displacement and Diffusion Following the Introduction of Airport Metal Detectors

  Henda Y Hsu, R Apel•Terrorism and Political Violence•2015

  Incluir item

• Palestinian Suicide Bombing

  Open Access•Mia M Bloom, Mia Bloom•Political Science Quarterly•2004

  Incluir item

• The Strategic Logic of Suicide Terrorism

  Robert A Pape•American Political Science Review•2003

  Incluir item