Main conclusions of the analysis are that: (1) the indirect and underlying sources of conflict are important to explaining specific terrorist incidents as well as certain categories of terrorism; (2) the “root causes” are less helpful for both describing and explaining the general phenomenon of terrorism; and (3) the “root causes” are only helpful in conjunction with the precipitating factors associated with terrorism. Other conclusions of the analysis contend that analyzing a wide range of terrorist samples is not conducive to producing generalized conclusions about the relationship between social conditions and terrorism. Rather, qualitative case analyses that are capable of producing a detailed picture of specific conflicts may be the best methodology for understanding the role of “root causes” in relation to other explanatory variables. The findings suggest that effective counterterrorism policies must include policies that aid development and human rights. The “root causes” thesis contends that certain conditions provide a social environment and widespread grievances that, when combined with certain precipitating factors, lead to the emergence of terrorist organizations and terrorist acts. The precipitating factors that set the stage for terrorism can be either permissive or direct and include poverty, social inequality, and political grievances, among others. The author delineates “root causes” into qualitative and quantitative variables that can by empirically tested and considers the merits of different research methodologies for examining “root causes.” The result is that the indirect and underlying sources of conflict are considered significant to understanding specific terrorist incidents and certain categories of terrorism but that the “root causes” are less helpful in describing and explaining terrorism as a general phenomenon. Indeed, the author contends that “root causes” are only useful when they are considered in conjunction with the precipitating factors driving the emergence of terrorism. Figures, table, references