Section Sociological Theories. Report on Conference "Problem-Centered Comparison of Social-Theoretical Approach: Terrorism as a Social Structure

This article is a report of the conference organized by the University of Marburg's faculty of sociology in May 2006. The participants chose as an empirical case study the IRA terrorism. The explanation problem in this case was closely connected to the question of creation & reproduction of a terrorist structure of the IRA. By using the terrorist structure of the IRA as an example, the participants were asked to advocate on behalf of the social theory that they represent. Below is a sample of participants & their papers. Andrea Maurer discussed terrorist integration from the viewpoint of structural-individualism. She contended that terrorism is a social structure based on international membership of separate players where the organized use of violence is meant to influence others. Wolfgang-Ludwig Schneider discussed IRA terrorism from a system-theoretical concept where terrorist acts are seen as spectacular communication means to gain attention & repoliticize conflicts. Jo Reichertz contended that there is no general explanation of terrorist phenomena. Thus, the IRA could only be understood within the Gaelic historical context & tradition. A. Kallioinen