The Causes and Consequences of Terrorism in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview and recapitulation on the causes and consequences of terrorism in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). While terrorism is a global phenomenon, counterterrorism policy could constitute a challenge in SSA. As an economic good, terrorism can be explained within a standard rational choice model of optimizing agents, or an existential good explained by individuals who are present-aim oriented. Such a consideration is important for enabling security measures that are likely to be effective against terrorism in SSA. As many countries in SSA are in a geography subject to climate change, the chapter also considers the extent to which climate change can enable terrorism in SSA.