The phenomenon of poverty and unemployment are the most important determinant of terrorism discussed in literature. According to this proposal: "Poverty of resources, with prospects, choices and respect, will contribute to the development of terrorism" (O’Neill 2002).
Full Answer
What is terrorism and how does it work?
terrorism, the calculated use of violence to create a general climate of fear in a population and thereby to bring about a particular political objective.
What are the criteria for the definition of terrorism?
Terrorist acts frequently have a political purpose. Some official, governmental definitions of terrorism use the criterion of the illegitimacy or unlawfulness of the act. [better source needed] to distinguish between actions authorized by a government (and thus "lawful") and those of other actors,...
Why do we need to study terrorism?
Alienating a particular regional, socio-cultural and religious faction can cause structural dysfunctions at a domestic level and sometimes give rise to terrorism. We also need to examine the social and political culture behind terrorism.
What is state terrorism?
State terrorism has been used to refer to terrorist acts committed by governmental agents or forces. This involves the use of state resources employed by a state's foreign policies, such as using its military to directly perform acts of terrorism.
What does international terrorism mean?
law: International means that the act of terror involves the citizens or the territory of multiple countries.
What is terrorist designation?
Terrorist designations determine the consequences of committing terrorist acts. The difficulty in defining domestic terrorism does not only limit who gets designated as a threat, it also affects the legal consequences for committing acts of terror in the United States.
What would have happened if the perpetrator of the Las Vegas shooting had not died?
For example, someone like the perpetrator of the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, which killed fifty-eight and injured over five hundred, who had no political motive that the FBI could find, would have been charged with murder and other crimes—not domestic terrorism—if he had not died by suicide during the shooting.
What is the term for a group of people that attack civilians?
Terrorism is defined as “premeditated, politically motivated violence” that attacks civilians and is carried out by groups or people acting in secret.
What countries are on the list of terrorists?
Four countries are currently on the list: Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria.
Can FTOs be reported to the Treasury?
U.S. financial institutions can’t house or process funds from FTOs and must report any money from terrorist groups to the Department of the Treasury.
Does the federal government prosecute domestic terrorism?
The federal government has no laws specifically for prosecuting domestic terrorism. For example, someone like the perpetrator of the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, which killed fifty-eight and injured over five hundred, who had no political motive that the FBI could find, would have been charged with murder and other crimes—not domestic terrorism—if he had not died by suicide during the shooting.
What is the purpose of terrorism?
terrorism, the calculated use of violence to create a general climate of fear in a population and thereby to bring about a particular political objective. Terrorism has been practiced by political organizations with both rightist and leftist objectives, by nationalistic and religious groups, by revolutionaries, and even by state institutions such as armies, intelligence services, and police.
Why do terrorists attack?
Although apparently random, the victims and locations of terrorist attacks often are carefully selected for their shock value. Schools, shopping centres, bus and train stations, and restaurants and nightclubs have been targeted both because they attract large crowds and because they are places with which members of the civilian population are familiar and in which they feel at ease. The goal of terrorism generally is to destroy the public’s sense of security in the places most familiar to them. Major targets sometimes also include buildings or other locations that are important economic or political symbols, such as embassies or military installations. The hope of the terrorist is that the sense of terror these acts engender will induce the population to pressure political leaders toward a specific political end.
What is the meaning of "one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter"?
Since the 20th century, ideology and political opportunism have led a number of countries to engage in international terrorism, often under the guise of supporting movements of national liberation. (Hence, it became a common saying that “One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter.”) The distinction between terrorism and other forms of political violence became blurred—particularly as many guerrilla groups often employed terrorist tactics—and issues of jurisdiction and legality were similarly obscured.
What is ecoterrorism?
In the late 20th century, the term ecoterrorism was used to describe acts of environmental destruction committed in order to further a political goal or as an act of war, such as the burning of Kuwaiti oil wells by the Iraqi army during the Persian Gulf War . The term also was applied to certain environmentally benign though criminal acts, such as the spiking of lumber trees, intended to disrupt or prevent activities allegedly harmful to the environment.
Is terrorism based on criminality?
These problems have led some social scientists to adopt a definition of terrorism based not on criminality but on the fact that the victims of terrorist violence are most often innocent civilians. Even this definition is flexible, however, and on occasion it has been expanded to include various other factors, such as that terrorist acts are clandestine or surreptitious and that terrorist acts are intended to create an overwhelming sense of fear.
What was the ISIS acquisition of territory?
In the case of ISIS, this was evident in its acquisition of territory in Iraq and Syria through violent means; its targeting of Shi'a Muslims, Yazidis, and Christians in the process; and its direct command of fighters in Iraq and Syria.
Is terrorism a contested term?
June 4, 2018. Terrorism remains a contested term, with no set definition for the concept or broad agreement among academic experts on its usage. Bruce Hoffman of Georgetown University has defined terrorism as “violence—or equally important, the threat of violence—used and directed in pursuit of, or in service of, a political aim.”.
How can we better understand terrorism?
In order to better understand terrorism, we need to improve our knowledge of its history, social and political culture, and psychology.
Where did the term "terrorism" come from?
The etymology of the term “terrorism” has its genesis in Assyrian culture. As Jonathan Fine explains, the term “melammu,” which means inspiring fear and terror in one’s enemy, emerged as far back as 612 BCE in Assyrian history.
What do judges learn about criminals?
In the criminal context, judges often learn most about the psychological makeup of an offender at the sentencing stage. At a sentencing hearing, courts will typically rely on the use of presentence reports (PSRs) prior to sentencing the offender.
How is violent extremism perceived today?
As it has throughout human history, violent extremism today is perceived by its perpetrators as a way to impose beliefs, values, religions, and culture. If we fail to understand these underlying causes in the preventative stages, our responses will be ad-hoc, reactive solutions, rather than proactive endeavours.
What is the historical tension between cultural and/or religious groups?
Often, historical tension between cultural and/or religious groups incites extreme thinking . For example, in Iraq, historically Shias constituted approximately 60 percent of the population, compared with some 30 percent for Sunnis. In the early 20th century the British mandate favoured the Sunnis. The response of the Shia, particularly after the fall of Saddam Hussein, a Baathist and a Sunni, was an expression of liberation from years of Sunni-dominated leadership. Al-Qaeda’s presence grew stronger after the Hussein regime was toppled, even though it had no forceful presence in Iraq during the Hussein regime.
Why is it important to understand the cultural and/or religious background in the regions involved before participating in foreign missions?
It is critical that states understand the cultural and/or religious background in the regions involved before participating in foreign missions. Alienating a particular regional, socio-cultural and religious faction can cause structural dysfunctions at a domestic level and sometimes give rise to terrorism.
What was the first act of terror?
After the Assyrians, some of the first acts of “terror” formally labelled as such were propagated by the Jewish Sicarii sect in a rebellion against Rome in 70 CE. Ironically, the early use of the word referred to government conduct against the citizenry – sovereign actors instilling the fear of God in the people.
Why do people choose terrorism as a tactic?
Individuals and groups choose terrorism as a tactic because it can: Act as a form of asymmetric warfare in order to directly force a government to agree to demands. Intimidate a group of people into capitulating to the demands in order to avoid future injury.
Who is responsible for terrorism?
The perpetrators of acts of terrorism can be individuals, groups, or states. According to some definitions, clandestine or semi-clandestine state actors may carry out terrorist acts outside the framework of a state of war. The most common image of terrorism is that it is carried out by small and secretive cells, highly motivated to serve a particular cause and many of the most deadly operations in recent times, such as the September 11 attacks, the London underground bombing, 2008 Mumbai attacks and the 2002 Bali bombing were planned and carried out by a close clique, composed of close friends, family members and other strong social networks. These groups benefited from the free flow of information and efficient telecommunications to succeed where others had failed.
What is state terrorism?
State terrorism refers to acts of terrorism conducted by a state against its own citizens or against another state.
What political groups have been accused of using terrorism to achieve their objectives?
These include right-wing and left-wing political organizations, nationalist groups, religious groups, revolutionaries and ruling governments. Legislation declaring terrorism a crime has been adopted in many states.
How can a state sponsor terrorism?
A state can sponsor terrorism by funding or harboring a terrorist group. Opinions as to which acts of violence by states consist of state-sponsored terrorism vary widely. When states provide funding for groups considered by some to be terrorist, they rarely acknowledge them as such.
What is the criterion used to define terrorism?
Some official, governmental definitions of terrorism use the criterion of the illegitimacy or unlawfulness of the act. to distinguish between actions authorized by a government (and thus "lawful") and those of other actors, including individuals and small groups.
How has religious extremism impacted the world?
According to the Global Terrorism Index by the University of Maryland, College Park, religious extremism has overtaken national separatism and become the main driver of terrorist attacks around the world. Since 9/11 there has been a five-fold increase in deaths from terrorist attacks. The majority of incidents over the past several years can be tied to groups with a religious agenda. Before 2000, it was nationalist separatist terrorist organizations such as the IRA and Chechen rebels who were behind the most attacks. The number of incidents from nationalist separatist groups has remained relatively stable in the years since while religious extremism has grown. The prevalence of Islamist groups in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria and Syria is the main driver behind these trends.
What are the implications of the absence of a universal definition of terrorism?
One is that the lack of a definition may faciliate the politicization and misuse of the term "terrorism" to curb non-terrorist (or sometimes even non-criminal) activities.
What resolution called for all states to be parties to the international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism?
This text was reaffirmed by Security Council Resolution 1373 (2001) , which called upon all States to " [b]ecome parties as soon as possible to the relevant international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism, including the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism of 9 December 1999." (Para. 3 (d)).
What resolution did the Security Council adopt in 2001?
As was discussed in Module 3, following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Security Council adopted Resolution 1373 (2001), which required States to take effective national legislative action as part of their global efforts to counter terrorism more effectively. Although, on the one hand, this obligated States to take legislative action, ...
When was the European Union's Framework Decision on Combating Terrorism made?
European Union, Council of the European Union, Council Framework Decision of 13 June 2002 on combating terrorism, article 1.
When was the Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism enacted?
Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism (adopted 16 May 2005, entered into force 1 June 2007), article 1 (1).
Is there agreement on the definition of terrorism?
Indeed, as Saul further comments, although the Tribunal sought to rely on regional instruments against terrorism as partial evidence of support for its findings, a correct reading of them in fact reveals that no agreement exists regarding a common definition of terrorism (Saul, 2012, p. lxxi), as was illustrated above. More generally, the consensus seems to be that a customary definition of terrorism is potentially evolving, but that its existence was declared prematurely by the Special Tribunal.
Is terrorism a legal term?
Although there is no current agreement regarding of a universal legal definition of the term , there has been some debate regarding the possible existence of an, at least partial, customary definition of terrorism. This followed the somewhat controversial judgment of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon in 2011, which found that since at least 2005, a definition of "transnational terrorism" has existed within customary international law:
How can information help prevent terrorism?
Psychologists' findings suggest that assuaging people's fear of cultural annihilation, highlighting our common humanity or demonstrating the discrepancy between the dream and reality of terrorist involvement could keep would-be terrorists from turning to violence, for instance.
What is the role of cultural values in terrorism?
The role of cultural values. Paradoxically, an unconscious fear of death may underlie much of the motivation behind terrorism and reactions to terrorism , maintains psychologist Tom Pyszczynski, PhD, of the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.
What does Horgan say about radicalization?
Horgan found that people who are more open to terrorist recruitment and radicalization tend to: Feel angry, alienated or disenfranchised. Believe that their current political involvement does not give them the power to effect real change. Identify with perceived victims of the social injustice they are fighting.
What is the purpose of extreme force in a terrorist attack?
As one example, if terrorists commit an attack and a state uses extreme force to send a punishing message back , the terrorists may use that action to drum up greater anti-state sentiment among citizens, lending justification to their next actions.
Can terrorists be talked out of violence?
In fact, the notion that terrorists could be talked out of committing violence using peaceful dialogue and a helping hand is no longer an idealist's pipe dream, but actually the aim of a growing number of "de-radicalization" programs worldwide, says social psychologist Arie Kruglanski, PhD, co-director of the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism, or START, one of several university-based Centers of Excellence established under the Homeland Security Act of 2002.
Do terrorists volunteer as experimental subjects?
For one thing, terrorists aren't likely to volunteer as experimental subjects, and examining their activities from afar can lead to erroneous conclusions. What's more, one group's terrorist is another group's freedom fighter, as the millions of Arabs who support Palestinian suicide bombers will attest. Given these complexities, the psychology of ...
Does cultural annihilation fuel terrorist sentiments?
In a more global sense, a fear of cultural annihilation may help fuel terrorist sentiments, says psychologist and terrorism expert Fathali Moghaddam, PhD, of Georgetown University's department of psychology.
Why do politicians use terror?
It's probably not surprising that many politicians — not just the president — use "terror" as a way to influence minds and gain votes. The defeat of the terrorist Islamic State was a big issue in the 2016 election. Immigration reform has also been tied to keeping terrorists from our shores.
What happens when the news of another mass murder breaks?
breaks — an almost daily occurrence it seems — people are forced to stumble their way through a series of inescapable emotions. The psychological stages go something like this:
Is terrorism toxic?
That's partly because the legal definition of the word terrorism is as murky and toxic as the minds of the people who carry it out. "Every terrorism textbook and every terrorism class begins with the definition problem," says Jane Cramer, Ph.D. a professor of political science at the University of Oregon.
Is it a bad idea to call someone a terrorist?
The objection to calling someone a terrorist lies largely with the word itself — terrorism. It is a term reserved for the worst of the worst. For many Americans, it seems to be saved for those from outside our borders who aim to kill innocent Americans.
Can the United Nations agree on what constitutes terrorism?
The Merriam-Webster-izing of the term terrorism has become so tricky in fact, so fraught with politics and legal pitfalls that, even after decades of trying, the United Nations can't come to an agreement on what constitutes terrorism or what a terrorist looks like.
