Understanding Terrorism
Defination of Terrorism.
ter·ror·ism [ter-uh-riz-uhm] Show IPA
–noun
1. the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce,especially for political purposes.
2. the state of fear and submission produced by terrorism or terrorization.
3. a terroristic method of governing or of resisting a government. 4. | systematic use of violence and intimidation to achieve some goal |
Root causes of terrorism
One debate that seems to occupy the center stage in the discourse on terrorism is the one on its ‘root causes’. This debate has for long been a part of the non traditional approach of looking at conflicts and terrorism. The traditional approach that strongly advocates a law and order or military solution to the problem of terrorism has also begun to acknowledge that unless the ‘root causes’ of terrorism are eliminated, the war against terrorism can never be won
What are root causes and does terrorism have root causes? Is it necessary to address the root causes? A better way to focus on this debate would be to try and understand whether terrorism can be justified at all.
The Permanent UN Representative of Finland , speaking at a debate in the General Assembly, in Oct.2001 said—“there is no just terrorism whatever the causes”. The problem with the discourse on terrorism is the ‘ism’ attached to terror, ‘ism’ meaning a state or theory of terror. Terrorism is not the same as other isms like communism, nazism, fascism, liberalism, communalism….secularism. It is a means to an end that could very well be any of these ideological political systems. Since violent and destructive strategies cannot be justified for any cause, terrorism has no justification, if defined in terms of the violent acts that are committed.
To put it simply…..terrorism might grow out of inequality, oppression etc. but such circumstances do not justify terrorist attacks on unarmed civilians, by any political, religious, philosophical or moral considerations. Terrorism can be
ter·ror·ism [ter-uh-riz-uhm] Show IPA
–noun
1. the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce,especially for political purposes.
2. the state of fear and submission produced by terrorism or terrorization.
3. a terroristic method of governing or of resisting a government. 4. | systematic use of violence and intimidation to achieve some goal |
Root causes of terrorism
One debate that seems to occupy the center stage in the discourse on terrorism is the one on its ‘root causes’. This debate has for long been a part of the non traditional approach of looking at conflicts and terrorism. The traditional approach that strongly advocates a law and order or military solution to the problem of terrorism has also begun to acknowledge that unless the ‘root causes’ of terrorism are eliminated, the war against terrorism can never be won
What are root causes and does terrorism have root causes? Is it necessary to address the root causes? A better way to focus on this debate would be to try and understand whether terrorism can be justified at all.
The Permanent UN Representative of Finland , speaking at a debate in the General Assembly, in Oct.2001 said—“there is no just terrorism whatever the causes”. The problem with the discourse on terrorism is the ‘ism’ attached to terror, ‘ism’ meaning a state or theory of terror. Terrorism is not the same as other isms like communism, nazism, fascism, liberalism, communalism….secularism. It is a means to an end that could very well be any of these ideological political systems. Since violent and destructive strategies cannot be justified for any cause, terrorism has no justification, if defined in terms of the violent acts that are committed.
To put it simply…..terrorism might grow out of inequality, oppression etc. but such circumstances do not justify terrorist attacks on unarmed civilians, by any political, religious, philosophical or moral considerations. Terrorism can be