Investigation of topological and hierarchical relationships between the countries affected by terrorism

Sociophysics is a contemporary and emerging field that applies some methods and approaches from statistical physics, applied mathematics, and complexity studies to social phenomena and problems through interdisciplinary approaches. On the other hand, the reactions countries take in response to social, economic, cultural, political, technological, and policy changes can lead to various new developments, particularly affecting demographic structures and altering the overall progression of the countries. In this regard, sociophysics can be utilized to explain events that affect relationships between countries, such as social, societal, and political phenomena, and to reveal their development, change, and functioning, as well as to offer solutions to these events. In this thesis, the hierarchical and topological structures, as well as the network clusters of thirty (30) countries affected by terrorism, have been analyzed using the minimal spanning tree (MST) and hierarchical tree (HT) methods, which are hierarchical structure techniques. To analyze the network clustering among the 30 countries affected by terrorism in detail, the topology, taxonomy, and relationships of these countries were investigated using death and injury data from 1970 to 2020. Based on the average number of deaths and injuries due to terrorism, it was observed that the countries could be classified as least affected, affected, and highly affected, showing a consistent pattern. The results indicated that Turkey is a key country with the most interactions with other countries. In the MST of deaths and injuries, Turkey is positioned at the center. In the HT, it is situated within a large cluster. The obtained results support the validity of the Eurasian Dominance Theory in some geopolitical theories. The findings are evidently valuable for policymakers, historians, geopolitical analysts, and scientists.