Criminological Analysis of Terrorism
Keywords:
Terrorism, prevention, radicalization process, vulnerableAbstract
The article “Criminological Analysis of Terrorism” aims to examine the terrorist phenomenon from a criminological perspective, highlighting how classical and modern theories of criminology can explain the emergence, development and perpetuation of ideologically motivated violence. Terrorism is analyzed as a form of organized crime and as an extreme expression of social deviance, characterized by the systematic use of violence against civilians to achieve political, religious or ideological goals. The paper begins by conceptually delimiting terrorism, highlighting the terminological and political difficulties related to its definition, as well as its classification according to motivation and actor (state, religious, nationalist, extreme right or left terrorism). A review is made of the main relevant criminological theories – such as the theory of anomie, the theory of differential association or the theory of social control – which offer explanations regarding the motivation of terrorist actors and the social context of radicalization. The article focuses on the profile of the terrorist offender, contrary to the stereotypes that associate him with marginal or mentally unstable individuals. Studies show that many of the terrorists are educated people, with a deep ideological motivation and a strong group identification. The radicalization process is approached from a multidimensional perspective, analyzing its stages, psychosocial risk factors and the role of informal networks or the online environment in facilitating it. Regarding response measures, the analysis highlights the importance of a prevention framework that includes both social and educational interventions (primary prevention) and security and deradicalization policies (secondary and tertiary prevention). The comparative study between jihadist and far-right terrorism reveals similarities in radicalization mechanisms and ideological differences, providing a balanced picture of the plurality of contemporary terrorist threats. In conclusion, the article supports the need for an integrated approach, combining criminological explanations with effective institutional responses. Terrorism cannot be understood outside the social, political and cultural context, and its prevention requires inter-institutional, international collaboration and strengthening the resilience of vulnerable communities.
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