Shifting Motivations of Terrorist Groups: From Cause to Profit
The traditional understanding of terrorist organizations as purely ideologically driven entities is being challenged by emerging evidence suggesting a shift in their motivations. The sources highlight a concerning trend where some terrorist groups, particularly those involved in protracted conflicts, appear to be prioritizing personal gain and criminal enterprise over their purported political or religious goals.
This trend is evident in the activities of dissident factions in Northern Ireland, who continue to engage in violence and criminal activities despite the formal end of the conflict. While these groups claim to uphold the cause, their actions suggest a focus on self-enrichment and maintaining a reputation for power within their communities. This phenomenon, termed "identity terrorism," sees individuals exploiting the guise of a cause to pursue personal agendas.
A striking example of this shift can be found in the collaboration between dissident Irish Republican terrorists and organized crime groups like the Kinahan Cartel. These alliances involve sharing smuggling routes, engaging in drug trafficking, and utilizing terrorist networks for criminal purposes. The Kinahan Cartel, in particular, has leveraged connections with terrorist groups on both sides of the sectarian divide for its own financial gain.
This blurring of lines between terrorism and organized crime is not limited to Northern Ireland. Similar patterns are observed in Colombia, where former members of the FARC and ELN, once ideologically driven guerrilla organizations, are increasingly involved in drug trafficking, illegal mining, and extortion. These groups maintain a facade of continuing the struggle, but their primary focus appears to be exploiting criminal opportunities for profit.
We are also witnessing the re-emergence of state sponsorship of terrorism, often intertwined with organized crime. Iran, for example, has been linked to attempted assassinations and kidnappings of dissidents in Western countries, utilizing criminal networks to carry out these operations. Similarly, Russia has been accused of supporting terrorist groups like Hezbollah and utilizing organized crime as proxies for its geopolitical goals.
This evolving landscape of terrorism, characterized by a shift towards personal gain, criminal enterprise, and state sponsorship, necessitates a reassessment of traditional understandings of terrorist motivations. The sources suggest a need for greater focus on the crime-terror nexus and the complex interplay of factors driving individuals and groups towards this dangerous convergence.
Terror for Profit: A New Paradigm for Understanding Terrorism and Organised Crime is published by KeyPoint Press
Terror for Profit: A New Paradigm for Understanding Terrorism and Organized Crime is presently available on Amazon in ebook format for Kindle and paperback.