The New Terrorism Debate

Abstract

This paper explores whether or not the traits found in the new terrorism paradigm correspond
with Hamas’ behavioral and organizational characteristics. By focusing on the core concepts
of the new terrorism paradigm this paper discusses how Hamas fits within the parameters laid
out by those concepts, and compares these assumptions with the analysis of Hamas’ behavior
in some of the recent terrorism literature. Based on this comparison this paper argues Hamas
is less ideologically/religiously motivated, as the new terrorism argues, and more politically
as well as structurally motivated. This conclusion therefore argues that the weight placed on
the relevance of the new terrorism perspective should be reevaluated.

Keywords

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