The Changing Nature of Suicide Attacks: A Social Network Perspective

Abstract

To comprehend the developments underlying the suicide attacks of recent years, we suggest that the organizational approach, which until recently was used to explain this phenomenon, should be complemented with a social network perspective. By employing a social network analysis of Palestinian suicide networks, we have found that, in contrast to prevailing perceptions which view suicide attacks as a product of strategic decisions made within organizational frameworks, decisions have actually been made, to a great extent, by local activists, and struggles between local and family groups have proved to be the best predictor of their actions in this context. We also found that the peripheral nature of suicide bombers has been a characteristic common to most networks. Finally, we have found that the existence of cohesive subgroups, as well as the number of hubs in a network, has an influence on the network's effectiveness. We conclude the paper by showing that the method of network analysis can also be of considerable assistance from the standpoint of dealing with suicide attacks. On the one hand, this is possible by identifying the network's central figures who are essential for its continued existence, and on the other, we identify the grassroots factors responsible for the emergence of these networks.

Social Network Analysis in the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence

“…Finally, the importance of detecting the hubs stems not just from the fact that this allows us to uncover the power division within the network and who possesses more social capital (Bourdieu 1986) but also to better understand the motives beyond the group's actions. As demonstrated by (Pedahzur and Perliger, 2006), by looking at the characteristics and history of the hubs, the researchers were able to detect the motivations behind the attacks of the studied networks of Palestinian suicide bombers, epitomizing that the "hubs" will, in many cases, use the networks to promote personal or local political interests.…”

“…The growing prominence of these empirical observations led an increasing number of scholars to shift their attention from the individual or organizational levels of analysis, to the social dynamic within the groups and especially impelled them to investigate how the type/intensity of ties between the group's members and their multifunctional nature are associated with the group's radicalization, the emergence of common identity and ideological commitment, and engagement in violent activities (Rodriquez, 2005;Koschade, 2006;Pedahzur and Perliger, 2006). As further exemplified in this paper, SNA is well suited for such investigations.…”

Social network analysis and counterinsurgency: a counterproductive strategy?

“…The apparently complex and transnational character of many militant groups meant that they could be conceived of as networks rather than traditional, hierarchical, bureaucratic, and territory-specific organisations. Peddahzur andPerliger (2006, p. 1989) recommended 'shifting the level of analysis from the established hierarchical group to "horizontal networks", which operate within or independently of the group'. According to Joshua Sinai, SNA could help us understand:…”

Monitoring and Disrupting Dark Networks: A Bias Toward the Center and What It Costs Us

“…Analysts have explored secret societies (Erickson 1981;Simmel 1906), criminal networks (Sparrow 1991), and price-fixing conspiracy networks (Baker and Faulkner 1993). And increasingly after 9/11, they have used social network analysis (SNA) as a tool to track and disrupt them (Carley, Lee and Krackhardt 2002;Koschade 2006;Krebs 2002;Magouirk, Atran and Sageman 2008;McCulloh and Carley 2011;Pedahzur and Perliger 2006;Rodriguez 2005;Sageman 2004). …”