TERRORISM
Terrorism is defined as the use of violence to
attain political or religious objectives
It is the use of violence in a systematic and
planned way to achieve political aims
It is a method whereby an organised group or
party or state seeks to achieve its aims
through the use of violence
It is the indiscriminate use of force
against civilians and non combatants
It is a politically motivated violence
against innocent civilians and non
combatants by individuals, groups or
state agents
It is the act of violence which seeks to instill
terror in the minds of people in general and
supporters and members of establishments in
particular
It does not merely aim at inflicting physical,
economic and mental sufferings on its victims
but also creating psychological effect on the
society
It is not a recent phenomenon
Terrorist groups have existed in every period of history
and every part of the globe
With the revolution in means of communication,
information and weapons technology it has posed a
gravest danger on mankind
Because of its reach and network it has become a global
phenomenon
The concept of terrorism claims its
association with the origin of modern
democracy
The term originated in France and
entered English language in 1795 after
the reign of terror
The word terror is derived from the Latin
word ‘ terrere’ means to tremble or to
frighten
In modern times it was used during
French Revolution
Characteristics
1. The cause:
Terrorism can not exist on its own
It must have a cause
2. No ethics
Kills innocent civilians
3. Terrorists do not have a ground
Their strength is that they have no fixed
positions
It’s very difficult to hunt them
4. Hit and Run
They do not fight pitched battles
They hit and run
Their motto is strike when the enemy is
weak , withdraw when he is strong
5. External support
The terrorists cultivate a foreign sponsor
who give them material support
They use a sponsoring country as a safe
place when they are under pressure
Classification
Terrorists groups differ according to their
aims, motives and ideologies
1. Nationalistic groups:
These share the goal of self determination
and reject the label of terrorist
Eg: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Palestine Liberation Organisation ( PLO)
LTTE
2. Idealogues
This category aims to transform the
social, economic and political system of
the country in the light of their ideology
Eg: Naxalites
3. Single issue terrorism
This terrorism is committed by the
individuals of small groups attempting to
exert pressure on state to concede some
privileges to a large group with which
they sympathise
4. State terrorism:
Here the government itself uses illegitimate
violence on citizens
This represents a deliberate strategy of domination
It denies rights to citizens
Claims what it did is right
5. State sponsored terrorism:
Here a sovereign state sponsors
terrorism to create political instability in
another country
Means to combat terrorism
1. Since terrorism has acquired international
dimension, measures to combat it should
also be international
International community should share the
intelligence
Victim nations should come together and
share informations to deal with it
2. Anti terrorist laws should be given teeth world
over
3. Extradition laws should be simplified for the
quick extradition of terrorists
4. International law should be strengthened
5. UNO should involve actively in combating
terrorism
6. Economic and military sanctions
should be imposed upon the nations
which harbour terrorism
7. Private manufacturers of weapon who
sell arms to terrorists should be identified
and tackled
8. Dissatisfied people who turns to be
terrorists should be addressed properly
by the govt
9. Media, who sometimes unknowingly
glorify the terrorists should be made to
accept a code of conduct