# Why Terrorist Ideologies are So Powerful

Sociologist Neil J. Smelser presented a lecture titled "Why Are Terrorist Ideologies So Powerful." Smelser occupies the chair of the Countries and Cultures of the North in the Library's John W. Kluge Center, which sponsored the lecture. In his talk, Smelser goes beyond contemporary radical Islamic-inspired ideologies to cover extremist ideologies in general, some of which combine to generate terrorist activities. He discusses several subtopics on how ideologies can be a unique mix of meaningful cultural change and a way of assigning responsibility and blame. He talks about themes of ambivalence in ideologies, the rationalization of ideologies and the confrontation of terrorist and counter-terrorist ideologies.

- Kind: Talk
- Year: 2006
- By: John W. Kluge Center (library Of Congress)
- Genres: War, Religion
- Archive: [Library of Congress](https://www.loc.gov/item/2021687798/)
- Licence or status: Rights statement at the Library of Congress (as the archive states it)
- Credit: Library of Congress
- Who can watch: Teens profiles and older (the archive gives no rating; placed by Invisible Network from its collection and subjects)

[Watch now](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/watch/archive/loc/2021687798?play=1)