With a Little Help from my Friends: an Exploration of the Tactical Use of Single-Actor Terrorism by the Islamic State

Clare Ellis

Abstract


In recent years there has been a growing focus on the threat from lone-actor terrorists; however, unless used with caution, the term can mask a more complex and nuanced situation. This article argues that in the era of the Islamic State (IS), a dichotomous classification of plots as either networked or ‘lone-actor’ is misleading, obscuring varied degrees of engagement. In addition to inspiring undirected attacks by its supporters, IS has produced a hybrid threat from individual attackers, detached from the broader network but able to benefit from its guidance and, in some cases, logistical support. In light of this finding, this article draws a distinction between inspired lone-actor- and other forms of single-actor- terrorism, offering a new framework for conceptualising individual attackers who act in the name of IS.



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ENHANCING SECURITY THROUGH COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH

Perspectives on Terrorism is  a journal of the Terrorism Research Initiative and the Center for Terrorism and Security Studies

ISSN  2334-3745 (Online)

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{"cc_re__cc_re__cc_by_3_0": ["r- and other forms of single-actor- terrorism, offering a new framework for conceptualising individual attackers who act in the name of IS.</em></p><em><br /></em></div>\n<br />\n</div>\nFull Text:\n<a href=\"http://www.terrorismanalysts.com/pt/index.php/pot/article/view/555/1100\" class=\"file\" target=\"_parent\">PDF</a>\n<a href=\"http://www.terrorismanalysts.com/pt/index.php/pot/article/view/555/html\" class=\"file\" target=\"_parent\">HTML</a>\n</div>\n<!-- start AddThis -->\n<!-- end AddThis -->\n<br /><br />\n<a rel=\"license\" target=\"_new\" href=\"http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/\"><img alt=\"Creative Commons License\" style=\"border-width:0\" src=\"http://i.creativecommons.org/l/by/3.0/80x15.png\" /></a>\n<br />\nThis <span xmlns:dc=\"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/\" href=\"http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text\" rel=\"dc:type\">work</span> is licensed under a <a target=\"_new\" rel=\"license\" href=\"http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/\">Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License</a>.\n<br /><br />\n<p style=\"text-align: center; color: #73160d;\"><strong><span lang=\"EN-US\">ENHANCING&nbsp;SE", "ts.com/pt/index.php/pot/article/view/555/html\" class=\"file\" target=\"_parent\">HTML</a>\n</div>\n<!-- start AddThis -->\n<!-- end AddThis -->\n<br /><br />\n<a rel=\"license\" target=\"_new\" href=\"http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/\"><img alt=\"Creative Commons License\" style=\"border-width:0\" src=\"http://i.creativecommons.org/l/by/3.0/80x15.png\" /></a>\n<br />\nThis <span xmlns:dc=\"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/\" href=\"http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text\" rel=\"dc:type\">work</span> is licensed under a <a target=\"_new\" rel=\"license\" href=\"http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/\">Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License</a>.\n<br /><br />\n<p style=\"text-align: center; color: #73160d;\"><strong><span lang=\"EN-US\">ENHANCING&nbsp;SECURITY&nbsp;THROUGH&nbsp;COLLABORATIVE&nbsp;RESEARCH</span></strong></p><p style=\"text-align: center; color: #73160d;\"><em><span lang=\"EN-US\">Perspectives on Terrorism </span></em><span lang=\"EN-US\">is &nbsp;a journal of the</span><em><span lang=\"EN-US\"> Terrorism Research Initiative </span></em><span lang=\"EN-US\">and the</span><em><span lang=\"EN-U"], "copyright__copyright__copyright": ["tween inspired lone-actor- and other forms of single-actor- terrorism, offering a new framework for conceptualising individual attackers who act in the name of IS.\n\n\n\nFull Text: PDF HTML\n\n\n\nThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.\n\nENHANCING\u00a0SECURITY\u00a0THROUGH\u00a0COLLABORATIVE\u00a0RESEARCH\n\nPerspectives on Terrorism is \u00a0a journal of the Terrorism Research Initiative and the Center for Terrorism and Security Studies\n\nISSN \u00a02334-3745 (Online)\n\nDisclaimer, Terms and Conditions"]}