Criminological and socio-psychological research of suicidal terrorism in the postmodern era

Abstract

The article examines the criminological and socio-psychological characteristics of suicidal terrorism as a type of political violence at the present stage. The use of the historical method of scientific research allows concluding that although suicidal terrorism manifests itself in different historical epochs, only since the second half of the 20th century, suicidal terrorism has become a widely used violent practice. The analysis of the positions on this topic allows defining suicidal terrorism as a violent practice aimed at causing maximum damage to the population and (or) civilian items, as well as state authorities, institutions, or international organizations to intimidate the population and influence official authorities, which is accompanied by a conscious refusal of the perpetrator to save his/her life. At the same time, suicidal terrorism itself is represented in two forms: classic suicidal terrorism and high-probability suicidal terrorism. Based on the analysis of statistical data on the spread of suicidal terrorism in the world, a sharp trend in the growth of this type of terrorism in the 21st century is determined, as well as correlation changes in the specific coefficient of harm caused depending on the tactics of suicidal terrorism. Two key approaches to understanding the causes of suicidal terrorism are considered. As to the first approach, suicidal terrorism is explained from the perspective of religious self-consciousness and the crisis of cultural and national values that have been historically developed in traditional society. Within the second approach, the determination of suicidal terrorism is due to social protest against an unfair system of social organization and established social relations.