Suicide Bombers

What compels an individual to sacrifice his/her life? Such a question has perplexed me for some time now and most books I read took a rather reductionist approach in providing an answer. Nonetheless, through one of my political science courses I came across a book that provided a multi-step tactic to explain the phenomenon of suicide bombers in Palestine. I'll provide a brief overview of this scholar's approach to answering the question, but to gain a better understanding of the issue I recommend reading the book.

Mohammed M. Hafez in Manufacturing Human Bombs: The Making of Palestinian Suicide Bombers focuses on analyzing the structure by which an individual becomes a suicide bomber through a three-level system of analysis that includes: organizational motives, individual motives and societal motives. Hafez goes beyond the traditional religious fanatic explanation to draw connections on how different sectors of society contribute to the accepted culture of martyrdom that has permeated Palestine significantly since the al-Aqsa Intifida.

Primarily, he notes that three conditions must be present in order for suicide terrorism to proliferate: first, there must be the accepted notion of a culture of martyrdom in the society; second, there must be a strategic decision to employ the tactic of suicide bombers by an organization (usually politically); third, there must be present the political context that generates a supply of recruits (ix). Once these conditions are present it is the individual who for religious, nationalistic or societal motives joins in the process to become a strategic suicidal weapon.

Specifically, to the individual the appeal of martyrdom and self-redemption play the largest role in a person’s decision to become a suicide bomber. Hafez notes that Palestinian suicide bombers see acts of self-sacrifice as a means to redeem their identity. As redemption plays such a large role in an individual’s motivation, Hafez identifies the three redemptions that military organizations often employ to recruit people: religious revivalism, nationalist-conflict, and community ties (see page 34 for more info). For example, Hamas and Jihad heavily link self-sacrifice to Islamic identities so individuals will feel compelled to die for a higher cause (see page 37 & 38). Moreover, the culture of martyrdom that has permeated the Palestinian society acts as a driving force for the individual to feel that his death will be honored and celebrated by the society.

Thus, through his analysis, it becomes clear that there is more to Palestinian suicide bombers than a willingness to die for a religious cause. Their actions are guided by an intricate system of organizations that mobilize them into action and a society that usually venerates their death. Hence, curbing the problem will require a societal de-legimitization of the process of suicide bombing, a crackdown of the organizations that sponsor these individuals, and the elimination of groups that twist religious ideas to inspire fanaticism and hate.

NOTE: (In reply to posted comment) This book is intended as an analyis of Palestinian Suicide Bombers, not all bombers in general. I did not intend for it to be a universal analysis of this highly complex problem.

If you want to learn more, read the book!

It is available @ VKC USC library if anyone is interested in reading it.

Hafez, Mohammed. Manufacturing Human Bombs: the Making of Palestinian Suicide
Bombers. Washington, D.C.: United States Institute of Peace, 2006.