Terrorist Structures in the Middle East from a Psychological Perspective; Reaction and Exploitation (The Case of Al Qaeda and ISIS)

Ömer Kerküklü

Article Details

Terrorist Structures in the Middle East from a Psychological Perspective; Reaction and Exploitation (The Case of Al Qaeda and ISIS)

Authors:

Ömer Kerküklü

Publisher:

Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University

Journal:

Akademi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.10 Issue 28, pp.85-97

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

1/2023

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001283098

pISSN:

2667-4866

Keywords:

Abstract:

 Terrorism and terrorism are among the most important problems of international security. In the security studies literature, many hypotheses have been put forward regarding the causes of terrorism. These studies, which are carried out regionally in the Middle East, mostly include evaluations made from a religious perspective. In this study, the causality of psychological factors in the background of terrorism and terrorist organizations in the Middle East was questioned and it was argued that psychological motivations, along with many other factors, had an effect on the emergence of terrorism. In this context, the psychological elements in the background of terrorism were examined through two exemplary terrorist organizations, namely Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. The structuring and spheres of influence of these organizations, both regionally and globally, were investigated. It is clear that such terrorist organizations have developed psychological warfare strategies as well as effective warfare. The propaganda tools and ideological references of these organizations that create psychological effects were examined. The characteristics and lives of the leaders of the organization were examined. The psychological arguments made by the experts were compared with examples from the lives and characters of the leaders. In addition to individual studies, the process that caused the problem was also examined with its social and cultural aspects. The problematic psychological infrastructure caused by cultural teachings that push individuals to such structures has been examined. In addition to these different approaches, the contribution of international actors foreign policy decisions to the process has been examined. Thus, in the study, the subject was handled with an interdisciplinary approach and a discussion was carried out in partnership with the discipline of Psychology and International Relations.

 Terrorism and terrorism are among the most important problems of international security. In the security studies literature, many hypotheses have been put forward regarding the causes of terrorism. These studies, which are carried out regionally in the Middle East, mostly include evaluations made from a religious perspective. In this study, the causality of psychological factors in the background of terrorism and terrorist organizations in the Middle East was questioned and it was argued that psychological motivations, along with many other factors, had an effect on the emergence of terrorism. In this context, the psychological elements in the background of terrorism were examined through two exemplary terrorist organizations, namely Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. The structuring and spheres of influence of these organizations, both regionally and globally, were investigated. It is clear that such terrorist organizations have developed psychological warfare strategies as well as effective warfare. The propaganda tools and ideological references of these organizations that create psychological effects were examined. The characteristics and lives of the leaders of the organization were examined. The psychological arguments made by the experts were compared with examples from the lives and characters of the leaders. In addition to individual studies, the process that caused the problem was also examined with its social and cultural aspects. The problematic psychological infrastructure caused by cultural teachings that push individuals to such structures has been examined. In addition to these different approaches, the contribution of international actors foreign policy decisions to the process has been examined. Thus, in the study, the subject was handled with an interdisciplinary approach and a discussion was carried out in partnership with the discipline of Psychology and International Relations.

 Terrorism and terrorism are among the most important problems of international security. In the security studies literature, many hypotheses have been put forward regarding the causes of terrorism. These studies, which are carried out regionally in the Middle East, mostly include evaluations made from a religious perspective. In this study, the causality of psychological factors in the background of terrorism and terrorist organizations in the Middle East was questioned and it was argued that psychological motivations, along with many other factors, had an effect on the emergence of terrorism. In this context, the psychological elements in the background of terrorism were examined through two exemplary terrorist organizations, namely Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. The structuring and spheres of influence of these organizations, both regionally and globally, were investigated. It is clear that such terrorist organizations have developed psychological warfare strategies as well as effective warfare. The propaganda tools and ideological references of these organizations that create psychological effects were examined. The characteristics and lives of the leaders of the organization were examined. The psychological arguments made by the experts were compared with examples from the lives and characters of the leaders. In addition to individual studies, the process that caused the problem was also examined with its social and cultural aspects. The problematic psychological infrastructure caused by cultural teachings that push individuals to such structures has been examined. In addition to these different approaches, the contribution of international actors foreign policy decisions to the process has been examined. Thus, in the study, the subject was handled with an interdisciplinary approach and a discussion was carried out in partnership with the discipline of Psychology and International Relations.

 Terör ve terörizm uluslararası güvenliğin en önemli sorunlarının başında gelmektedir. Güvenlik çalışmaları literatüründe terörün ortaya çıkış nedenleriyle alakalı olarak pek çok varsayım ileri sürülmüştür. Bölgesel olarak Ortadoğu özelinde yapılan bu çalışmalar çoğunlukla dini perspektiften yapılan değerlendirmeleri içermektedir. Bu çalışmada ise Ortadoğu özelinden terör ve terör yapılanmalarının arka planındaki psikolojik faktörlerin nedenselliği sorgulanmış ve diğer pek çok etkenle birlikte psikolojik motivasyonların da terörün ortaya çıkışında etkisi olduğu ileri sürülmüştür. Bu kapsamda, iki örnek terör örgütü yani El Kaide ve Irak Şam İslam Devleti örgütleri üzerinden terörün arka planındaki psikolojik unsurlar irdelenmiştir. Bu örgütlerin hem bölgesel hem de küresel olarak yapılanmaları ve etki alanları araştırılmıştır. Bu tarz terör yapılanmalarının etkin savaşın yanı sıra psikolojik savaş stratejileri de geliştirdikleri açıktır. Bu örgütlerin psikolojik etkiler yaratan propaganda araçları ve ideolojik referansları incelenmiştir. Örgüt liderlerinin karakteristik özellikleri ve hayatları incelenmiştir. Uzmanların belirttiği psikolojik savlar liderlerin hayatlarından ve karakterlerinden örnekler ile karşılaştırılmıştır. Bireysel incelemelerin yanı sıra sorunu doğuran süreç toplumsal ve kültürel yönleriyle de irdelenmiştir. Bireyleri bu tür yapılanmalara iten kültürel öğretilerin yol açtığı sorunlu psikolojik alt yapı incelenmiştir. Bu farklı yaklaşımların yanı sıra uluslararası aktörlerin dış politika kararlarının sürece katkısı incelenmiştir. Böylelikle çalışmada konu interdisipliner bir yaklaşımla ele alınmış ve Psikoloji ile Uluslararası İlişkiler disiplini ortaklığında bir tartışma yürütülmüştür.

Article Details

Terrorist Structures in the Middle East from a Psychological Perspective; Reaction and Exploitation (The Case of Al Qaeda and ISIS)

Authors:

Ömer Kerküklü

Publisher:

Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University

Journal:

Akademi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.10 Issue 28, pp.85-97

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

1/2023

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001283098

pISSN:

2667-4866

Psychology

Terror

Al Qaeda

ISIS

Terör

El Kaide

IŞİD

Psikoloji.

Psychology

Terror

Al Qaeda

ISIS

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Ömer Kerküklü

Publisher: Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University

Journal: Akademi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.10 Issue 28, pp.85-97

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 1/2023

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001283098

pISSN: 2667-4866

Issues

Authors:

Ömer Kerküklü

Publisher:

Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University

Journal:

Akademi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.10 Issue 28, pp.85-97

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

1/2023

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001283098

pISSN:

2667-4866