Selection, Availability, and Opportunity

The Conditional Effect of Poverty on Terrorist Group Participation

Datos Bibliográficos

ID6284064
AutoresJennifer Kavanagh (0000-0001-8844-4607, University of Michigan, autor de correspondencia)
Año2011
Volumen55
Número1
Páginas106-132
Fecha de publicación2011-02-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaJournal of Conflict Resolution (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0022-0027 • E-ISSN: 1552-8766
EditorialSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/0022002710374713
OpenAlexW2140806153
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas20
Referencias citadas27

Poverty is often identified as a determinant of terrorist group participation, but existing research reveals mixed support for this relationship. Some studies find that macroeconomic decline is associated with increased production of terrorists, but micro-level research suggests terrorists have above average socioeconomic status and educational attainment. In this article, the author argues that poverty should increase terrorist group participation only for individuals with high education. The author suggests that as a result of terrorist group selection preferences and the lower opportunity costs for militant group membership in economically depressed environments, the likelihood of terrorist group participation should be highest for the highly educated, poor members of any population. The author tests the hypotheses using data from Krueger and Maleckova (2003) on participation in Hezbollah, adding an interaction term to their model. The results support the hypotheses. Poverty increases the likelihood of participation in Hezbollah only for those with at least high school education

Demographic economics · Development economics · Economic growth · Economics · Educational attainment · Militant · Political science · Politics · Population · Poverty · Selection (genetic algorithm · Socioeconomic status · Sociology · Terrorism · Crime, Illicit Activities, and Governance · Demography · Political Conflict and Governance · Psychology · Social Psychology · Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political Violence