When Civilians are Targets: The Fatal Effects of State Sponsored Religiously Motivated Terrorism

Abstract

ABSTRACT This research investigates the link between ideology and state sponsorship of terrorist and militant groups on the propensity to attack civilian targets. I argue that religiously motivated terrorist and militant groups have a predisposition toward civilian attacks and that states will intentionally sponsor these groups because of their willingness to target civilians. The results find that religiously motivated groups attack civilian targets at higher rates when they have the resources of state sponsorship. As a result, counterterrorism and counterinsurgency measures require multilateral cooperation in hardening targets, eradicating state financing of terrorist groups, and reducing conspicuous Western presence.