Instead of viewing terrorism as a response – either direct or indirect – to poverty or ignorance, we suggest that it is more accurately viewed as a response to political conditions and longstanding feelings of indignity and frustration that have little to do with economic circumstances. We suspect that is why international terrorist acts are more likely to be committed by people who grew up under repressive political regimes.

There are many good reasons to improve education and reduce poverty in poor countries. Alas, reducing terrorism is probably not one of them.