Terrorism

What is meant by terrorism? What do you think are the reasons? Have you thought about its impacts and what are its solutions? Read further to know more.

Defining terrorism is a tedious and confusing task as there is a lack of consensus at the international level. However several efforts have been made in this regard.

Defining Terrorism

An agreed, comprehensive definition of terrorism has never been created by the international community. The United Nations’ attempts to define the term during the 1970s and 1980s failed mostly because of disagreements among its members over the use of violence in conflicts over self-determination and national liberation. Due to these differences, a conclusion cannot be reached.

According to the FBI: “Terrorism is the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.”

Causes of Terrorism

There are many causes such as:

Political causes

Insurgency and guerrilla warfare, a type of organized conflict, were the contexts in which terrorism was first theorized. A non-state army or organization committing political violence. Because they dislike the current system, they pick terrorism. They oppose the current social structure and wish to change it.

Religious reasons

In the 1990s, experts started to claim that a brand-new sort of terrorism propelled by religious zeal was on the increase. They cited groups like Al Qaeda, the Japanese cult Aum Shinrikyo, and Christian identity movements. Religious concepts like martyrdom were viewed as especially hazardous.

Socio-Economic

According to socio-economic theories, persons who experience different types of deprivation are more likely to turn to terrorism or are more open to being recruited by groups that use terrorist tactics. Lack of political freedom, lack of access to education, and poverty are a few examples.

Types of Terrorism

The following are the various types of terrorism.

Ethno-Nationalist

According to Daniel Byman, ethnic terrorism is the premeditated use of violence by a subnational ethnic group to further its cause. Such violence typically aims at either the establishment of a separate State or elevating one ethnic group above another.

Activities by Tamil nationalist groups in Sri Lanka are an example of Ethno-Nationalist terrorism.

Religious

Hoffman claims that those who engage in terrorism who are either wholly or partially driven by religious imperative view violence as a sacramental or heavenly responsibility. Religious terrorism is more destructive because it adopts different justifications and modes of legitimization than other terrorist organizations.

Ideology oriented

Several ideologies have been used to legitimize terrorism. They include:

Left-Wing Extremism

The idea focuses on overthrowing the state through an armed struggle and establishing a communist state.

Right Wing Extremism

Right-wing organizations typically aim to preserve the status quo or go back to a scenario from the past that they believe should have been preserved.

They might compel the government to seize a piece of land or to step in to defend the rights of a minority that is being “oppressed” in a neighbouring nation.

State Sponsored

State-sponsored terrorism and proxy war are as old as organized warfare itself. According to Walter Laqueur, these customs were in place in antiquity in the Eastern Empires, Rome and Byzantium, Asia, and Europe.

Impacts of Terrorism

It seriously jeopardizes global peace and security and undercuts the fundamental principles of growth, peace, and humanity. Terrorist activities not only have a catastrophic human cost in terms of lives lost or permanently changed, but they also endanger political stability and economic and social advancement.

Often, terrorist attacks disregard international boundaries.CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives) materials are used in terrorist attacks that have devastating effects on infrastructure and communities.

Measures To Counter Terrorism

• The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) is responsible for leading and coordinating the UN system’s efforts to prevent and combat terrorism and violent extremism worldwide.
• Under UNOCT, the UN Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT) encourages global collaboration in the fight against terrorism and assists the Member States in putting the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy into practice.
• The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s (UNODC) Terrorism Prevention Branch (TPB) is a key player in global efforts.
• International standards are established by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global organization that monitors money laundering and terrorist funding to prevent these illicit actions and the harm they do to society.

Notable incidents of 21st century

The 21st century has seen several major terrorist attacks that have had profound impacts on global politics, security policies, and international relations. Here are some of the most notable:

September 11, 2001 (9/11) – United States

• Details: Coordinated attacks by the terrorist group al-Qaeda, involving the hijacking of four commercial airplanes. Two planes were flown into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, one into the Pentagon, and the fourth crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers attempted to overpower the hijackers.
• Impact: Nearly 3,000 people were killed. The attacks led to the U.S. launching the War on Terror, including the invasion of Afghanistan and later Iraq.

2002 Bali Bombings – Indonesia

• Details: Two bombs exploded in a nightclub district in Bali, killing 202 people, most of whom were foreign tourists. Jemaah Islamiyah, a Southeast Asian Islamist terrorist organization, carried out the attack.
• Impact: The bombings brought international attention to the threat of Islamist terrorism in Southeast Asia and led to a crackdown on Jemaah Islamiyah.

2004 Madrid Train Bombings (3/11) – Spain

• Details: A series of coordinated bombings on the commuter train system during the morning rush hour, killing 193 people and injuring over 2,000. An al-Qaeda-inspired group carried out the attack.
• Impact: The bombings occurred just days before Spain’s general elections, influencing the outcome and leading to Spain’s withdrawal of troops from Iraq.

2005 London Bombings (7/7) – United Kingdom

• Details: Coordinated suicide bombings on the London public transport system, targeting three Underground trains and a double-decker bus. The attacks killed 52 civilians and injured more than 700.
• Impact: The bombings were a stark reminder of the ongoing threat of Islamist terrorism in Europe and led to significant changes in security and counterterrorism policies in the UK.

2008 Mumbai Attacks (26/11)- India

• Details: A group of ten terrorists from the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba carried out a series of shootings and bombings across Mumbai over four days, killing 166 people, including foreign nationals, and injuring hundreds more.
• Impact: The attacks strained India-Pakistan relations and led to a major overhaul of India’s counterterrorism and intelligence apparatus.

2015 Paris Attacks – France

• Details: Coordinated attacks by the Islamic State (ISIS) on various locations, including the Bataclan concert hall, cafes, and the Stade de France stadium. The attacks killed 130 people and injured hundreds more.
• Impact: The attacks led to a state of emergency in France and intensified the global fight against ISIS. It also sparked widespread fear and heightened security measures across Europe.

2016 Brussels Bombings – Belgium

• Details: Suicide bombers affiliated with ISIS targeted Brussels Airport and a metro station, killing 32 civilians and injuring over 300.
• Impact: The bombings highlighted vulnerabilities in European security and led to increased efforts to combat radicalization and improve intelligence-sharing among European nations.

2019 Christchurch Mosque Shootings – New Zealand

• Details: A white supremacist terrorist attacked two mosques during Friday prayers, live-streaming the attack on social media. Fifty-one people were killed, and dozens were injured.
• Impact: The attack prompted a global conversation on the rise of white supremacist terrorism and led to significant changes in New Zealand’s gun laws.

Conclusion

A combined effort at the international level is the need of the hour to tackle the perils of terrorism. Terrorism of any form is unacceptable in a civilized society.

Read: Nuclear terrorism

Article written by: Vivek Rajasekharan