NEWS

KARUNASENA THARINDU YASHINTHA HERATH (College of Asia Pacific Studies, Spring 2026, Sri Lanka), has had his research paper entitled: "Understanding Terrorism: A New Perspective through Group Cohesion", published in the international academic journal Central European Journal of International and Security Studies (indexed in Scopus).

This article is based on Mr. KARUNASENA’s undergraduate thesis, which he completed under the supervision of Associate Professor HEO Seunghoon Emilia and Professor CHEN Ching-Chang.
In his research, Mr. Karunasena attempts to answer a fundamental question: why terrorist organizations continue to exist despite rarely achieving their stated objectives. He approaches this question through the analytical lens of group cohesion, offering a fresh perspective on the internal dynamics that sustain such organizations.

The publication of an undergraduate student’s research in an international peerreviewed academic journal highlights both the exceptional research capabilities of the student and the high quality of education and academic supervision provided at APU.

Comment from Mr. KARUNASENA THARINDU YASHINTHA HERATH

Terrorism and Security is an ever-growing field. The threat it poses to international stability and civilians is immense. This article addresses a central paradox in terrorism: why it continues to persist despite frequently failing to achieve its objectives. Moving beyond traditional explanations, I develop the Group Cohesion Model to analyse how individual motivations and organizational structures interact in shaping participation in terrorism. Through a comparative study of ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and Al-Shabaab, the paper highlights the complex internal dynamics that sustain these groups. I feel both honored and encouraged to see this work published, as it marks an important step in my academic journey and ongoing interest in terrorism studies.