terrorism

What do you understand by the word terrorism? What causes and effects of terrorism do you know? Let’s dig in and find out more.

 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

By the end of this topic you are expected to;

• Understand the meaning of terrorism
• Understand the causes and motivations of terrorism
• Understand the effects of terrorism
• Understand the types of terrorism

Terrorism refers to the use of intentional violence, against civilians for political purposes. It is used to primarily refer to violence during a time of peace or war against neutral military personnel or mostly civilians (non-combatants).

 

TYPES OF TERRORISM

Depending on the country, time in history and the political system, the types of terrorism are varying. Terrorism can, however, be generally grouped into six categories;

• Civil disorder. This is a form of collective violence that interferes with the peace, security as well as the normal functioning of a community.
• Political terrorism. This refers to violent criminal behavior that is designed mainly to generate fear in the community for political purposes.
• Non-political terrorism. This refers to terrorism that is not aimed at political purposes but that which exhibits conscious design to create and maintain a high degree of fear for coercive purposes, but the end is individual or collective gain rather than the achievement of a political objective.
• Limited political terrorism. Genuine political terrorism is characterized by a revolutionary approach, limited political terrorism, on the other hand, refers to acts of terrorism committed for political or ideological motives but which are not part of a concerted campaign to capture control of the state.
• Quasi-terrorism. This is a type of terrorism where it is not the main purpose of the quasi terrorists to induce terror in the immediate victim like in the case of genuine terrorism, but quasi-terrorists use the techniques and modalities of the genuine terrorist and produces similar reaction and consequences.
• Official or state terrorism. This refers to nations whose rule is based on fear and oppression that reach similar proportions to those of terrorism.

Other sources have grouped terrorism in different ways. For example, terrorism can also be broadly classified into international terrorism and domestic terrorism or using categories like insurgent terrorism or vigilante terrorism.

 

CAUSES AND MOTIVATIONS

CHOICE OF TERRORISM AS A TACTIC

Groups and individuals chose terrorism as a tactic because it can;

• Act as a form of asymmetric warfare to force a government to agree to demands
• Get attention and therefore political support for a cause
• Intimidate a group of people into capitulating to the demands in order to avoid future injury
• Directly inspire more people to the cause
• Indirectly inspire more people to the cause by provoking an over-reaction or a hostile response from enemies to the cause.

CAUSES MOTIVATING TERRORISM

Certain social or political causes include;

• Separatist or independence movements
• Irredentist movements
• Environmental protection
• Supremacism of a particular group
• Spread or dominance of a particular religion

PERSONAL OR SOCIAL FACTORS

Several social and personal factors can influence the personal choice of whether or not to join a terrorist group or attempt an act of terror, including:

• Identity, including, affiliation with a particular religion, culture or ethnicity
• Previous exposure to violence
• Mental health disorder
• Social isolation
• Perception that the cause responds to a profound injustice or indignity.