Conceptualizing political violence of non-state actors in international security research

This chapter illustrates issues of conceptualization based on the question of how to conceptualize terrorists – who represent a particular type of non-state actors – and, more specifically, how to conceptualize their violent actions. In social research, one has different options for operationalizing terrorism and political violence, each of which has its own methodological, theoretical and conceptual advantages and flaws. The chapter aims to enable the researcher to make a conscious decision about which approach is most suitable and to explain how one can operationalize particular research objectives when studying non-state actors in the realm of international security. State actors may establish a monopoly on the legitimate use of force; however, even totalitarian states find it virtually impossible to monopolize the use of force. Often, terrorists apparently want to demonstrate just this. For some groups, killing indiscriminately is the preferred choice to demonstrate how powerless the regime actually is.