Research on International Terrorism

Terrorism research is often divided into two phases: before and after 9/11. The years after 9/11 saw the emergence of critical terrorism studies, which originated from dissatisfaction with traditional terrorism studies and the state-centric focus. This chapter examines the current state of terrorism research, followed by a brief overview of its dominant research methodologies. It discusses the dominant research techniques and methodologies used in the field of international terrorism research. Most terrorism research relies on secondary data, archival records, and media sources that provide a distorted, flawed, and inaccurate view of terrorists and terrorism. Most terrorism research is dependent on two methodologies: documentary analysis and interviews. The threat posed by terrorism research varies; researchers can come into conflict with the terrorists themselves and government officials, including law enforcement and criminal justice agents. The issues involved in researching terrorism may help to explain the dearth of primary research, particularly on the perpetrators of terrorist violence.