An operational code of terrorism: the political psychology of Ayman al-Zawahiri

Abstract

The study of terrorism requires not only the study of specific acts of terrorism but also the study of the context in which such acts are made. Researchers must consequently be familiar with the general psychological principles of terrorism (of its causes and effects) as well as the psychological background of individual terrorists, especially terrorist leaders such as Ayman al-Zawahiri. This study creates a broad, context-rich profile of Ayman al-Zawahiri's political psychology using the analytical framework known as operational code. Content analysis of al-Zawahiri's written and spoken statements allows the researcher to analyze the important belief systems that motivate al-Zawahiri's actions. These belief systems are crucial in understanding al-Zawahiri's political and terrorist actions, as al-Zawahiri experiences very few institutional barriers altering the otherwise robust relationship between belief and action. This study finds not only that al-Zawahiri perceives the political world through a purely religious view, but also that his implementation of political action depends only on the will, capabilities, and nature of the jihadist movement itself. As a result, al-Zawahiri shows little to no cognitive complexity and interacts with the political world solely based on his judgment of the capabilities of the jihadist movement.

Keywords:

• Ayman al-Zawahiri
• operational code
• terrorism
• political psychology

Acknowledgements

I would like to acknowledge Dr Kathleen Hogan and Dr Elena Mastors, who helped in reviewing preliminary drafts of this paper.

Notes on contributor

James D. Jacquier served as a military intelligence linguist, analyst, and interrogator for 6 years with the U.S. Army National Guard and deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He received a bachelor's degree in Political Science from Brigham Young University and a Master's degree in Intelligence Studies from American Military University. Currently, he works for the Federal Bureau of Prisons.