Finn, Melissa

Dr. Melissa Finn is a Professor in the Department of Political Science at the Wilfrid Laurier University. Her recent book, Al-Qaeda and Sacrifice: Martyrdom, War and Politics, examines the analytical usefulness of the descriptor for self-made bombings, ‘suicide bombings’. She argues that the term ‘suicide bombings’ does not further our understanding of the phenomena and is actually counter-productive towards that end. In fact, a great deal about jihadi motivations and priorities can be unearthed in the seeing the bombings as ‘sacrificial’.