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To Kill Hope? In Search of a Reliable Strategy to Fight Terrorism

Author

Listed:
  • Sergey Zhavoronkov

    (Gaidar Institute for Economic Policy)

  • Konstantin Yanovskiy

    (Gaidar Institute for Economic Policy)

  • Timofey Ginker

    (Department of Economics Bar-Ilan University, Israel)

  • Ilia Zatkovetsky

    (Samuel Neaman Institute for Advanced Studies in Science and Technology)

Abstract

A panoply of anti-terrorism strategies were utilized in Israel throughout its history, beginning with Palestine under the British Mandate and continuing after the creation of the State of Israel to the present day. This history similar to international experience overall, and provides no basis to link terrorism with poverty or despair. Nor does history suggest any reasonable expectation that terrorists will be appeased by concessions of any kind, whether transfer of funds or relinquishing territory to terrorist control. Neither statistical analysis nor the study of particular incidents support such a hypothesis. The immediate and most obvious criterion of success for parties in mutual conflict is the control of new territory and its population, which allows terrorists freedom of movement and opportunities to try new terrorist technologies and take the initiative in dynamic situations. Loss of land and population, humiliating defeat, or ostentatious display of triumph by the enemy, in contrast, discourage both terrorist leaders and perpetrators, who would lose the posthumous reward typically promised them in the guise of prestige and income for their families. Factual instances and statistical data provide evidence to support the hypothesis that terrorism is best put down by force. When opting for such a strategy, it is of critical importance that military personnel be provided with appropriate legal protection.

Suggested Citation

  • Sergey Zhavoronkov & Konstantin Yanovskiy & Timofey Ginker & Ilia Zatkovetsky, 2016. "To Kill Hope? In Search of a Reliable Strategy to Fight Terrorism," Working Papers 149, Gaidar Institute for Economic Policy, revised 2016.
    • Handle: RePEc:gai:wpaper:149
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Hope; Government strategy; terrorist rationality; military justice;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D74 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances; Revolutions
    • H56 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - National Security and War

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