Suicidal Ambitions: Human Bombs and the War in Iraq
Journal Article, The Fletcher Forum, volume 32, issue 1, pages 207-211
Winter 2008
Author: Matan Chorev, Senior Research Assistant, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
ABSTRACT
In Suicide Bombers in Iraq: The Strategy and Ideology of Martyrdom, Mohammed M. Hafez applies his earlier research on Palestinian suicide bombers and the causes of rebellion in the Islamic world to analyze the patterns of suicide attacks in Iraq. His goal is twofold. First, Hafez assesses whether existing theories on suicide terrorism offer an analytic lens capable of explaining the phenomenon in Iraq. Second, he endeavors to explain the nature and goals of the insurgency, what it portends for the future of Iraq and the United States’ objectives, and its global repercussions.
To be sure, the book is an invaluable resource for understanding who exactly is volunteering to fight and die in Iraq and why they are willing to do so. The author’s analysis makes important advances to existing theories that try to explain the existence, spread, and use of suicide bombings. Overall, however, the reader is left unconvinced as to whether the analytic prism of suicide terrorism advances, rather than distracts from, efforts to analyze the Iraqi conflict.
For more information about this publication please contact the Belfer Center Communications Office at 617-495-9858.
Full text of this publication is available at:
http://www.juancole.com/2008/09/chorev-reviews-hafez-on-suicide-bombers.html
For Academic Citation:
Document Length: 5 pp.
| MOST VIEWED PUBLICATIONS | POLICY BRIEF: AUTO EMISSIONS |
|---|---|
Policy Options for Reducing Oil Consumption and Greenhouse-Gas Emissions from the U.S. Transportation Sector The goal of this paper is to contribute to the current policy debate about how to effectively limit or reduce oil consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from the U.S. transportation sector. |
