International terrorism, political instability and the escalation effect

Arbeitspapier

What are the main causes of international terrorism? The lessons from the surge of academic research that followed 9/11 remain elusive. The careful investigation of the relative roles of economic and political conditions did little to change the fact that existing econometric estimates diverge in size, sign and significance. In this paper we present a new rationale (the escalation effect) stressing domestic political instability as the main reason for international terrorism. Econometric evidence from a panel of more than 130 countries (yearly from 1968 to 2003) shows this to be a much more promising avenue for future research than the available alternatives.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: KOF Working Papers ; No. 220

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Single Equation Models; Single Variables: Discrete Regression and Qualitative Choice Models; Discrete Regressors; Proportions; Probabilities ; Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior ; International Relations and International Political Economy: Other ; National Security and War ; Other Economic Systems: Political Economy; Legal Institutions; Property Rights; Natural Resources; Energy; Environment; Regional Studies
• Subject: terrorism ; international terrorism ; political instability ; escalation ; Politische Gewalt ; International ; Politische Stabilität ; Welt

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Campos, Nauro F. ; Gassebner, Martin
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): ETH Zurich, KOF Swiss Economic Institute
• (where): Zurich
• (when): 2009

Further information

• DOI: doi:10.3929/ethz-a-005778530
• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/50342
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:42 AM CET