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Victim of Success: American Dominance and Terrorism

Author

Listed:
  • David Sobek

    (Department of Political Science Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA, dsobek@lsu.edu)

  • Alex Braithwaite

    (Department of Political Science Pennsylvania State University University Park, Pennsylvania, USA)

Abstract

While terrorist attacks against American interests represent an important topic, few studies use international relations theory and a rigorous statistical methodology to examine their occurrence. In recognition of these shortcomings, this paper hypothesizes and tests a simple yet powerful relationship: as American dominance of the international system increases, the number of attacks against its interests will also rise. This relationship exists because American dominance leaves little room for revisionist actors to alter the status quo through conventional means, which makes terrorist methods an increasingly likely choice. Using ARIMA modeling techniques on a data set that spans from 1968—1996, we gain confirmation that increasing levels of American dominance are positively correlated with large numbers of attacks against American interests.

Suggested Citation

  • David Sobek & Alex Braithwaite, 2005. "Victim of Success: American Dominance and Terrorism," Conflict Management and Peace Science, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 22(2), pages 135-148, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:compsc:v:22:y:2005:i:2:p:135-148
    DOI: 10.1080/07388940590948565
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Atkinson, Scott E & Sandler, Todd & Tschirhart, John, 1987. "Terrorism in a Bargaining Framework," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 30(1), pages 1-21, April.
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    3. Walter Enders & Todd Sandler, 2000. "Is Transnational Terrorism Becoming More Threatening?," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 44(3), pages 307-332, June.
    4. Enders, Walter & Sandler, Todd, 2000. "Is Transnational Terrorism Becoming More Threatening? A Time-Series Investigation," Staff General Research Papers Archive 1823, Iowa State University, Department of Economics.
    5. Sandler, Todd & Tschirhart, John T. & Cauley, Jon, 1983. "A Theoretical Analysis of Transnational Terrorism," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 77(1), pages 36-54, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Krieger, Tim & Meierrieks, Daniel, 2013. "The rise of market-capitalism and the roots of anti-American terrorism," Discussion Paper Series 2013-04, University of Freiburg, Wilfried Guth Endowed Chair for Constitutional Political Economy and Competition Policy.
    2. Tim Krieger & Daniel Meierrieks, 2015. "The rise of capitalism and the roots of anti-American terrorism," Journal of Peace Research, Peace Research Institute Oslo, vol. 52(1), pages 46-61, January.
    3. Brockhoff Sarah & Krieger Tim & Meierrieks Daniel, 2016. "Heterogeneous Terrorism: Determinants of Left-Wing and Nationalist-Separatist Terrorism in Western Europe," Peace Economics, Peace Science, and Public Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 22(4), pages 393-401, December.

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