Terörizm ve Radikalleşme Araştırmaları Dergisi

Abstract

Lone actor or lone wolf terrorism is characterized by individuals who carry out violent acts independently, without being affiliated with any terrorist organization, posing a new threat that challenges modern security paradigms. These terrorists are often motivated by personal ideological beliefs and typically radicalize through the internet and social media. While the roots of lone actor terrorism can be traced back to 19th-century anarchist movements, the threat has become more prominent in the 20th and 21st centuries. Unlike traditional terrorist organizations, lone actors operate independently, making detection and prevention more difficult. In this context, combating lone actor terrorism requires new strategies, including the early detection of radicalization processes, tighter control of radical propaganda on the internet and social media, increasing psychosocial support services, and strengthening international cooperation. Additionally, tracking lone actors’ digital footprints, analyzing their psychosocial profiles, and developing international legal frameworks related to this threat are critical for future research and efforts in combating this evolving security challenge. This research examines the place of lone actor terrorism in the historical framework of terrorism, propose new research areas and the measures that can be taken to combat this terrorism.