The Root Causes of Suicide Terrorism in Türkiye

Demir S., ÜLGÜL M., Begeç S.

Middle East Journal, sa.78, ss.369-388, 2025 (SSCI, Scopus) identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Dergi Adı: Middle East Journal
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, IBZ Online, ABI/INFORM, American History and Life, Gender Studies Database, Geobase, Historical Abstracts, Index Islamicus, Jewish Studies Source, MLA - Modern Language Association Database, Political Science Complete, Public Affairs Index, DIALNET, Social Sciences Abstracts
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.369-388
  • Karadeniz Teknik Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Since the 1990s, there have been a number of suicide attacks in Türkiye carried out by various extremist organizations, including the Kurdistan Workers’Party, the Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party/Front, al-Qa‘ida, and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. Yet, despite the increasing tactical use of and growing scholarly attention to the subject of suicide terrorism, scholars have paid scant attention to its causes within Türkiye. Our analysis thus demonstrates that, despite differing expectations, all groups have generally employed suicide terrorism to pressure the Turkish governments to accept their demands, discourage state military operations, exploit public frustration with the government, increase their own influence, recruit new members, and display coordination with other terrorist organizations.