By P.Sundramoorthy

Undeniably, the significant impact of terror and extremist strategies in recent years has instilled significant levels of fear and phobia in societies worldwide. Governments, policymakers, law enforcement agencies, multinational corporations, non-governmental organizations, interest groups, and even ordinary folks are all attempting to acquire information on the profile of a terrorist. Many ask what does a terrorist look like, what personality traits do they possess, in what conditions do they live, are they employed or unemployed, are they religious fanatics, etc.? We desperately want answers so that we can identify these criminals and put a stop to their horrific and inhumane acts of terror and violence.

The task of profiling the terrorist has been a long, complex and tedious process for experts and law enforcement officials. In the last few decades, criminologists, sociologists, psychologists, political scientists, crime analysts and international security researchers and academics have attempted to systematically construct profiles of terrorists. Many scientific methodological issues have drawn the attention of critics. The simplest profiles used biological traits such as ethnicity, gender and age. Some use sociodemographic and psychopathological measurements.

Unfortunately, experts have acknowledged that there is no universal and accepted definition of the fundamental meaning of terrorism and this itself is a major hindrance. Although widely acknowledged that the act of terrorism is an act of crime but without universal consensus and agreement, the task of profiling becomes extremely challenging.

Regardless of this preliminary hindrance, the profiling of terrorists fails to result in any definitive typology of the universal terrorist. For instance, the use of ethnicity as a variable for profiling to monitor a population for potential local and international terrorists would result in a discrimination of security checks against specific nationalities or ethnic groups. Ethnic profiling creates hatred and hatred creates prejudice and discrimination. Obviously, the fact remains that based on official data that not all terrorists belong to one specific ethnic group. Terrorists profiling by ethnic and nationality profiling is not only inaccurate methodologically but distinctively violates the individual liberty of the population being monitored. Gender and age profiling has the same impact.

Some scholars argue that with acquisition of additional primary data, psychological profiling will be substantiated as a successful measure. However, based on analysis of official data by researchers, there is no grounded evidence to conclude that there is causal progression from mental illness to terroristic intention. Psychological profiling is further limited by the apparent normalcy and sociability of many captured terrorists. Thus, in the context of terrorism, the argument that a terrorist personality or personalities exist for psychological profiling is scientifically non-conclusive as well.

Sociodemographic profiles as illustrated in some research do display some credibility. Religiosity, social class, employment status, place of residence, type of neighbourhood, politics, level of corruption in local community, business opportunities, poverty, accessibility to schools and hospitals, public health, type of housing and other quality of life related variables can be useful in sociodemographic profiling. This type of profiling requires a considerable amount of biographical data and without the said data it has limited practical use in addressing emerging terrorist threats. Sociodemographic profiles only succeed in demonstrating the multiplicity and complexity of the phenomenon of terrorism and extremism.

Thus, will it ever be possible to profile the terrorist? Sadly the answer is no and to profile the terrorist is a futile endeavour and most of all it contributes negatively to both stereotyping ethnocentrism and will eventually lead to feelings and acts of prejudice and discrimination. As an alternative to profiling the terrorist, a more practical and effective methodology would be profiling the ideology of terrorism as a process within a complex system. This increasingly globalised phenomenon is here to stay and we need to engage with all segments to understand the root causes of extremism and terrorism.

P Sundramoorthy in on the research team of Crime and Policing, School of Social Sciences at Universiti Sains Malaysia.

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