A THEORY OF GENERAL CAUSES OF TERRORISM

HIGH POPULATION GROWTH, INCOME INEQUALITY AND RELATIVE DEPRIVATION

Abstract

A fundamental problem in psychosocial sciences is how to explain the root causes of terrorism. The vast literature has analyzed several determinants of terrorism. However, the precise role of demographic factors for the evolution of terrorism is hardly known. Statistical evidence here reveals that fatalities for incidents of terrorist are associated with growth rates of population. This finding seems to suggest that terrorism thrives –in average– in specific regions with high growth rates of population that may generate income inequality and relative deprivation of people. In addition, geospatial analysis here reveals that countries with high association between fatalities for terrorist incidents and population growth are mainly in Africa and Middle East. Overall, then, the study here can clarify and generalize whenever possible, one of the causes of terrorism, which is due to sociodemographic factors combined with psychosocial risk factors. Finally, the study suggests socioeconomic policies directed to reduce this critical problem in society.