Citation

Reinares F. Stud. Conflict Terrorism 2004; 27(6): 465-488.

Affiliation

Facultad de Ciencias Juridicas y Sociales, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Campus de Vicalvaro, Madrid, Spain, (freinares@fcjs.urjc.es)

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/10576100490519741

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Based on quantitative data extracted from a wide sample of ETA militants, this article offers an empirical assessment about their evolving social and demographic characteristics. Oral testimonies coming from individual interviews with former terrorists help to interpret statistics. Findings related to sex, age, and marital status when joining, also type of habitat they shared, are consistent with existing knowledge on the members of other contemporary terrorist organizations. By contrast, facts about occupation and social class are rather uncommon. Information gathered on more specific and situational variables reveals how these ethno-nationalist terrorists were not homogeneously recruited across its population of reference. Moreover, an inversion in the sociological profile of ETA activists took place over time, suggesting the extent to which membership traits may vary during the life cycle of a terrorist organization.