A New Wave of Terror: An Analysis of Current Trends in Terrorism and the Death of Religious Extremism
Open Access
Author:
Richards, Adelina Lynn
Area of Honors:
Security and Risk Analysis
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Donald Richard Shemanski, Thesis Supervisor Donald Richard Shemanski, Thesis Honors Advisor Dr. Edward J Glantz, Faculty Reader
Keywords:
risk analysis terrorism clash of civilizations culture anti-government terrorism waves
Abstract:
According to Professor David C. Rapoport, the modern world has seen four different waves of terrorism: anarchist, anti-colonial, new left, and religious. The most recent and deadly form of terrorism is occurring today, religious terrorism. However, it is imperative to look forward into the future to determine how terrorism will develop new threats. What will the fifth wave of terrorism be, how will it develop, and when will it occur? The research examines the past four waves, analyzes current trends in terrorist attacks, discovers and defines the next wave of terrorism, and provides a risk analysis to help combat against upcoming threats. The original hypothesis was that the next wave of terrorism will be cultural in nature, and will develop along the divides of "incompatible civilizations." However, the research shows the next form of terrorism will be anti-government in nature.
