ABSTRACT
IN SPITE of the increasing relevance of terrorism in the conduct ofpolitical affairs and the subsequent growth of terrorism studies, if one had to characterize the current state of the discipline it would resemble a process of ossification. A quarter of a century ago, J. Bowyer-Bell noted, ‘The academic response to terrorism had been ahistorical, exaggerated, and closely associated with congenial political postures.’1
Notwithstanding some promising theoretical paradigms and a measure of increased professionalism, the gist of Bowyer’s contention typifies the majority of terrorism research and analysis. The overriding deficiency of this state of stagnation is a dearth of empirically grounded research on terrorism.
