Papers by Alessandro Orsini
Anatomy of the Red Brigades, 2011
Studies in Conflict and Terrorism
ABSTRACT
La organización terrorista Boko Haram, recientemente
unida al Estado Islámico, es una
de las fo... more La organización terrorista Boko Haram, recientemente
unida al Estado Islámico, es una
de las formaciones yihadistas más crueles y
sanguinarias del mundo. Alessandro Orsini
estudia en este artículo sus antecedentes
históricos y culturales, que se enraízan en
una extensa relación de revueltas islamistas
que atraviesan la historia de Nigeria desde su
época colonial hasta su independencia.
The terrorist organization Boko Haram,
which recently joined the Islamic State, is
one of the most cruel and bloodthirsty
jihadist organizations of the world.
Alessandro Orsini studies in this article its
historical and cultural background, which
embed in a long list of Islamist revolts
piercing the history of Nigeria from its colonial times to its independence.
El atentado yihadista contra el semanario Charlie Hebdo del 7 de enero de 2015 ha planteado tres ... more El atentado yihadista contra el semanario Charlie Hebdo del 7 de enero de 2015 ha planteado tres preguntas de gran interés respecto a la seguridad de las ciudades europeas: 1) Al-Qaeda coordinó un atentado terrorista tan complejo y devastador como el de París desde un país lejano como Yemen? 2) Los servicios de inteligencia franceses y europeos verdadera capacidad para defendernos de los terroristas? 3) Qué son las microcélulas yihadistas?
This article presents, for the first time, data on the ages, sex, educational level, and occupati... more This article presents, for the first time, data on the ages, sex, educational level, and occupation of the Italian people arrested (2,730) or convicted (528) for crimes of terrorism from 1970 to 2011. Data on Italian terrorists were provided by the General Department of Prisoners of the Ministry of Justice.
This article also focuses on the role of ideology in the decision of people who are not from societies’ worst-off socioeconomic groups to join a left-wing terrorist organization. Taking up the sociological perspective of Max Weber, Clifford Geertz, and Raymond Boudon, the author introduces the concept of the “terrorist of the first hour” and considers ideology as a type of social bond. The concept of ideology is here broken down into four dimensions: Social, Temporal, Affective, and Moral (STAM bond).
This article describes the experience of a sociologist who made contact with a group
of diehard ... more This article describes the experience of a sociologist who made contact with a group
of diehard terrorists responsible for multiple murders in order to conduct an ethnographic
study. After outlining the sociological profile of the diehard terrorists, the
author—making reference to the ethnographic studies of Jack Douglas, Martin Sanchez
Jankowski, and Laud Humphreys—describes how he followed their traces. The aim of
the article is to analyze the psychological costs that the sociologist must pay when
he interacts with men and women who, in addition to proudly claiming credit for the
homicides they have committed, affirm the importance of continuing to kill in order to
salvage humanity’s future.
The interview that follows was conducted somewhere in Italy with a militant of the Red Brigades r... more The interview that follows was conducted somewhere in Italy with a militant of the Red Brigades recently freed after spending 32 years and 6 months in prison. Taking up the sociological perspective of Max Weber, the author draws a distinction between
“professional terrorist” and “vocational terrorist”. The terrorist by vocation differs from the professional terrorist in his profound faith in the mission he feels he must accomplish. He does not try to improve his social status and is not interested in the selfish pursuit of personal well-being. He gives up love, family, children and friendship. When he decides to join a terrorist group, he voluntarily severs any contact with his former life. He is a high school or university graduate and might choose a secure life
and a good job but prefers to kill, accepting the risk of dying. The vocational terrorist is the terrorist in his incandescent state.
El autor repasa la historia y evolución de
la organización terrorista suní ISIS, más
conocida en ... more El autor repasa la historia y evolución de
la organización terrorista suní ISIS, más
conocida en España por Estado Islámico
(EI), cuyo nacimiento se produjo como reacción
a la intervención occidental en Irak,
y cuyo fanatismo islamista antichií ha envuelto
a Irak y a una parte de Oriente
Medio en una vorágine de guerra, odio
sectario y violencia religiosa. El artículo se
detiene concretamente en el modelo de
valores conceptuales y simbólicos del
grupo terrorista, incluyendo su sistema
educativo, sus medios de comunicación y
la organización social que preconiza.
El presente artículo analiza el caso de las
Brigadas Rojas italianas como ejemplo de terrorismo
d... more El presente artículo analiza el caso de las
Brigadas Rojas italianas como ejemplo de terrorismo
de extrema izquierda de inspiración
marxista-leninista. El análisis pone el acento
en el papel de la ideología como esquema
mental que explica la acción de los terroristas
y presenta a los mismos dentro de la categoría
“terroristas de vocación”. Léase,
aquellos que teniendo la posibilidad de llevar
una vida cómoda eligen la acción terrorista
para apagar una necesidad “espiritual”.
Books by Alessandro Orsini
Stories from the Field-Columbia UP, 2020
Stories from the Field is a relatable, thoughtful, and unorthodox guide to field research in poli... more Stories from the Field is a relatable, thoughtful, and unorthodox guide to field research in political science. It features personal stories from working political scientists: some funny, some dramatic, all fascinating and informative. Political scientists from a diverse range of biographical and academic backgrounds describe research in North and South America, Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, ranging from archival work to interviews with combatants. In sharing their stories, the book’s forty-four contributors provide accessible illustrations of key concepts, including specific research methods like conducting surveys and interviews, practical questions of health and safety, and general principles such as the importance of flexibility, creativity, and interpersonal connections. The contributors reflect not only on their own experiences but also on larger questions about research ethics, responsibility, and the effects of their personal and professional identities on their fieldwork. Stories from the Field is an essential resource for graduate and advanced undergraduate students learning about field research methods, as well as established scholars contemplating new journeys into the field.
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Papers by Alessandro Orsini
unida al Estado Islámico, es una
de las formaciones yihadistas más crueles y
sanguinarias del mundo. Alessandro Orsini
estudia en este artículo sus antecedentes
históricos y culturales, que se enraízan en
una extensa relación de revueltas islamistas
que atraviesan la historia de Nigeria desde su
época colonial hasta su independencia.
The terrorist organization Boko Haram,
which recently joined the Islamic State, is
one of the most cruel and bloodthirsty
jihadist organizations of the world.
Alessandro Orsini studies in this article its
historical and cultural background, which
embed in a long list of Islamist revolts
piercing the history of Nigeria from its colonial times to its independence.
This article also focuses on the role of ideology in the decision of people who are not from societies’ worst-off socioeconomic groups to join a left-wing terrorist organization. Taking up the sociological perspective of Max Weber, Clifford Geertz, and Raymond Boudon, the author introduces the concept of the “terrorist of the first hour” and considers ideology as a type of social bond. The concept of ideology is here broken down into four dimensions: Social, Temporal, Affective, and Moral (STAM bond).
of diehard terrorists responsible for multiple murders in order to conduct an ethnographic
study. After outlining the sociological profile of the diehard terrorists, the
author—making reference to the ethnographic studies of Jack Douglas, Martin Sanchez
Jankowski, and Laud Humphreys—describes how he followed their traces. The aim of
the article is to analyze the psychological costs that the sociologist must pay when
he interacts with men and women who, in addition to proudly claiming credit for the
homicides they have committed, affirm the importance of continuing to kill in order to
salvage humanity’s future.
“professional terrorist” and “vocational terrorist”. The terrorist by vocation differs from the professional terrorist in his profound faith in the mission he feels he must accomplish. He does not try to improve his social status and is not interested in the selfish pursuit of personal well-being. He gives up love, family, children and friendship. When he decides to join a terrorist group, he voluntarily severs any contact with his former life. He is a high school or university graduate and might choose a secure life
and a good job but prefers to kill, accepting the risk of dying. The vocational terrorist is the terrorist in his incandescent state.
la organización terrorista suní ISIS, más
conocida en España por Estado Islámico
(EI), cuyo nacimiento se produjo como reacción
a la intervención occidental en Irak,
y cuyo fanatismo islamista antichií ha envuelto
a Irak y a una parte de Oriente
Medio en una vorágine de guerra, odio
sectario y violencia religiosa. El artículo se
detiene concretamente en el modelo de
valores conceptuales y simbólicos del
grupo terrorista, incluyendo su sistema
educativo, sus medios de comunicación y
la organización social que preconiza.
Brigadas Rojas italianas como ejemplo de terrorismo
de extrema izquierda de inspiración
marxista-leninista. El análisis pone el acento
en el papel de la ideología como esquema
mental que explica la acción de los terroristas
y presenta a los mismos dentro de la categoría
“terroristas de vocación”. Léase,
aquellos que teniendo la posibilidad de llevar
una vida cómoda eligen la acción terrorista
para apagar una necesidad “espiritual”.
Books by Alessandro Orsini
unida al Estado Islámico, es una
de las formaciones yihadistas más crueles y
sanguinarias del mundo. Alessandro Orsini
estudia en este artículo sus antecedentes
históricos y culturales, que se enraízan en
una extensa relación de revueltas islamistas
que atraviesan la historia de Nigeria desde su
época colonial hasta su independencia.
The terrorist organization Boko Haram,
which recently joined the Islamic State, is
one of the most cruel and bloodthirsty
jihadist organizations of the world.
Alessandro Orsini studies in this article its
historical and cultural background, which
embed in a long list of Islamist revolts
piercing the history of Nigeria from its colonial times to its independence.
This article also focuses on the role of ideology in the decision of people who are not from societies’ worst-off socioeconomic groups to join a left-wing terrorist organization. Taking up the sociological perspective of Max Weber, Clifford Geertz, and Raymond Boudon, the author introduces the concept of the “terrorist of the first hour” and considers ideology as a type of social bond. The concept of ideology is here broken down into four dimensions: Social, Temporal, Affective, and Moral (STAM bond).
of diehard terrorists responsible for multiple murders in order to conduct an ethnographic
study. After outlining the sociological profile of the diehard terrorists, the
author—making reference to the ethnographic studies of Jack Douglas, Martin Sanchez
Jankowski, and Laud Humphreys—describes how he followed their traces. The aim of
the article is to analyze the psychological costs that the sociologist must pay when
he interacts with men and women who, in addition to proudly claiming credit for the
homicides they have committed, affirm the importance of continuing to kill in order to
salvage humanity’s future.
“professional terrorist” and “vocational terrorist”. The terrorist by vocation differs from the professional terrorist in his profound faith in the mission he feels he must accomplish. He does not try to improve his social status and is not interested in the selfish pursuit of personal well-being. He gives up love, family, children and friendship. When he decides to join a terrorist group, he voluntarily severs any contact with his former life. He is a high school or university graduate and might choose a secure life
and a good job but prefers to kill, accepting the risk of dying. The vocational terrorist is the terrorist in his incandescent state.
la organización terrorista suní ISIS, más
conocida en España por Estado Islámico
(EI), cuyo nacimiento se produjo como reacción
a la intervención occidental en Irak,
y cuyo fanatismo islamista antichií ha envuelto
a Irak y a una parte de Oriente
Medio en una vorágine de guerra, odio
sectario y violencia religiosa. El artículo se
detiene concretamente en el modelo de
valores conceptuales y simbólicos del
grupo terrorista, incluyendo su sistema
educativo, sus medios de comunicación y
la organización social que preconiza.
Brigadas Rojas italianas como ejemplo de terrorismo
de extrema izquierda de inspiración
marxista-leninista. El análisis pone el acento
en el papel de la ideología como esquema
mental que explica la acción de los terroristas
y presenta a los mismos dentro de la categoría
“terroristas de vocación”. Léase,
aquellos que teniendo la posibilidad de llevar
una vida cómoda eligen la acción terrorista
para apagar una necesidad “espiritual”.