Chapter 12International Terrorism

Global Issue I

Introduction

• How can you define terrorism?• What is your description of a terrorist?• Is this something you think everyone would

agree on? Why or why not?

Terrorism

• A strategy by which subnational groups not recognized as legitimate by the states they oppose seek to resist those states by targeting non-state actors– Meant to spread fear and disrupt flow of everyday

life– Usually seek a political or military response

Definition of Terrorism

• There are many view points from which one can draw to describe terrorism– Not one definition is correct– Depends on where you stand on the situation

• Freedom fighter vs. Terrorist– One group claims terrorist, another claims

freedom fighter– Goes back to cultural misunderstandings and

culture

Roots of Terrorism

• Rise of Colonialism– European colonial powers were imperialist in their

colonies– Insurgencies developed to combat this imperialism

• Anarchists– The most global terrorist movement of the colonial

era– Between the 1870’s and World War I, assassinated

three kings, two presidents, and two prime ministers– Bombed railway cars and financial districts in Europe

and North America

Terrorism Today

• Widely distributed around the globe– Iraq is currently a leading site due to the United

States’ occupation– Africa, South America, and Asia have seen an

increased number of terrorist attacks• Staggering numbers of casualties– In one year Africa suffered 5,379 deaths as a result of

terrorist attacks, the highest per year of any country– The U.S. holds second place with 4,465 deaths in

2001

What Causes Terrorism?

• Activities by states– Most of the time, terrorism is an opposition to a

state’s way of doing things– “State terrorism” refers to the use by states of

retaliatory bombing, death squads, torture, etc.– “State-sponsored terrorism” occurs when states

harbor and sometimes support terrorist enemies of another state

Globalization’s Role In Terrorism

• Globalization has opened up new opportunities for terrorists– Communication networks allow terrorists to more

easily communicate with the public– Because people move from place to place for work

and tourism so frequently, terrorists can slip through the cracks

– Allows for relationships to be built between other illegal activity groups such as drug traffickers to benefit from one another

Misconceptions of Terrorism

• Terrorism is not an inherently religious act– No religion is more prone to producing terrorists

• Stereotyping occurs due to larger scale terrorist attacks that receive media attention