What Makes Terrorists Tick

Abstract

Max Abrahms’s article “What Terrorists Really Want: Terrorist Motives and
\nCounterterrorism Strategy” is a welcome critique of the many points taken for granted
\nby rational choice interpretations of terrorist group behavior.1 His systematic review of
\nthe observable implications of rational choice perspectives on terrorism reveals some
\nof the important shortfalls in the current literature. Abrahms overreaches, however, in
\nrejecting strategic models of terrorism without providing ample empirical evidence or
\nqualifications to his claims.