2

Rapoports Wave Theory

Students Name

Institution Affiliation

Course Name

Professors Name

Date

Rapoports Wave Theory

David’s Rapoports four waves theory was established with the aim of giving factual events in the terrorism field which started after the 9/11 incidence (Chiangi, 2021). For this discussion, I have chosen the London bombing that took place on the morning of July 7, 2005. During that morning, an explosion tore through three trains on the London underground. One hour later, another bomb exploded in another bus station in Tavistock Square. The four attacks led to the death of more than 52 people and left more than 700 people injured. After several days of investigation, it was discovered that the people who were responsible for the attacks were four ordinary British citizens who had prepared the explosion using inexpensive, readily available materials. This incidence belongs to the fourth wave of Rapoport’s wave theory, as most of its members are Islamic and have a common belief. Additionally, the four men who planned the whole incident were Islamic. During the investigation process, it was discovered that Al Qaeda may have offered training and support for the London bombing. The Irish Republican Army (IRA) is an additional terrorist event which falls under the first three waves of Rapoport’s wave theory. The IRA was established in the 1919s as a terrorist organization. At that time, the Northern Ireland population was known to be British, but the IRA wanted to change people to become Irish forcefully.

Concerning the two groups, the main difference is that the IRA does not support the suicidal bombing that took place in London, even though it is supported by the fourth wave of Rapoport’s theory (Moran, 2016). Moreover, during campaigns, IRA groups stuck on promoting killings that involved only military and government members. IRA strictly restricts civilian killings. The London bombing was suicidal as it killed more than fifty people, leaving 700 injured. It supports the Islamic model, which states that there is paradise on the other side of martyrdom. This is among the many reasons which cause bombers to commit suicide, as they believe there is hope on the other side. The IRA members are Catholics, and committing suicide is against their rules ((Archdiocese of Singapore, 2008).

References

Archdiocese of Singapore. (2008, July 20). Do suicide bombers go to hell? The Catholic News, 58(15), pp. 11-14.

Chiangi, M. A. (2021). Critically Examining David Rapoport’s Four Waves Theory of Modern Terrorism in the Light of Factual Historical Events. African Journal on Terrorism (2021) Vol, 11(1), 11-29.

Moran, M. (2016, March 16).Terrorist Groups and Political Legitimacy. Retrieved from Council on Foreign Relations:
https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/terrorist-groups-and-political-legitimacy.