Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
My definition of terrorism
What is terrorism in simple words
What is terrorism in simple words
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: My definition of terrorism
Definition of Terrorism
Throughout the history of humanity, radical groups and organizations have attempted to influence and shift the policies of governments and agencies around the world. The terminology most often used to describe the activities and beliefs of such groups and organizations is terrorism. Terrorism is defined as premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents, usually intended to influence a particular audience (CIA). The preceding definition will be the basis for the interpretation of this case analysis.
Background Information
The terrorist organization at the focus of this case analysis is the Special Purpose Islamic Regiment, or SPIR, also referred to as the al-Jihad-Fisi-Sabililah Special Islamic Regiment. This organization is a Chechen based terrorist group formed in 1996 by Arbi Barayev that was involved in an ethno-nationalist battle for the independence of the territories of Chechnya from Russian suppression for more than one hundred and fifty years (“Country Reports on Terrorism,” 2005). The heads of the organization are believed to be established at two different locations; the first location is the Urus-Martan district of Chechnya and the second location is the Pankisi Gorge in northeastern Georgia. The leader of the SPIR is now believed to be Amir Khamzat, assuming power after the death of previous SPIR leader Movsar Barayev, nephew of the group’s creator. Before his death in 2002, Barayev reported that the size of the organization was approximately four hundred active soldiers with just as many reserve soldiers willing and waiting for action (“Country Reports on Terrorism,” 2005).
General Beliefs
Members of ...
... middle of paper ...
...nation of a citizen of Alkhan-Kala, named Dzhapar Khazuyev, condemning the man as a “proven traitor.”
References
• Abdullaev, N. (2002, October 28). Barayev Points Finger at Basayev. Moscow Times, pp. 37-38.
• Armstrong, P. (1999). Conflict in Chechnya : A Background Perspective. The Journal of Conflict Studies, 1, 1-67.
• Country Reports on Terrorism 2004 (pp. 65-83). (2005). Terrorist Groups. New York: United States Department of State.
• Holley, D. (2002, October 26). Chechen Rebel’s Rise and Fall. Los Angelos Times, pp. 1-12.
• Jacinto, L. (2002). Black Widows: Hell Hath No Fury Like Chechnya’s Ruthless Widows of War. ABC News, 1, 72-94.
• Penketh, A. (1999, September 18). Young and Cruel Chechen Warlord Directing Siege. BBC, pp. 5-9.
• Smyth, P. (2000, October 25). Leader of Militant Chechens is Familiar with Terror Campaigns. The Irish Times, p. 18.
Tucker, Robert C. "The Mortal Danger". Course Reader for World Culture: Russia Since 1917. New York University, Spring 2001.
Clines, Francis X. “CONFLICT IN THE BALKANS: THE RESCUE; Downed Pilot Rescued in Bosnia in Daring Raid.” NY Times. June 09, 1995. http://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/09/world/conflict-balkans-rescue-downed-us-pilot-rescued-bosnia-daring-raid.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm.
Categorical terrorism, according to Jeff Goodwin, is defined as “the strategic use of violence and threats of violence, usually intended to influence several audiences, by oppositional political groups against civilian or noncombatants who belong to a specific entity, religious or national group, social class or some other collectivity, without regard to their individual identities or roles.” More so, in terms of definition, according to a study done by Jeffrey Record in 2003, there was a count of over 109 definitions of terrorism, covering 22 different categorical elements. During the 70s and 80s, the United Nations struggled to define the term, finally coming up with the following definition: “Criminal acts intended or calculated to provoke a state of terror in the general public, a group of persons or particular persons for political purposes are in any circumstance unjustifiable, whatever the considerations of a political, philosophical, ideological, racial, ethnic, religious or any other nature that may be invoked to justify them.”
Westwood, J. N., “Endurance and Endeavour: Russian history, 1812-1980”. 2nd ed. Oxford University Press, 1981.
For approximately the past three decades, a terrorist group has come to plague the world with its activities (Gunaratna, 2002). This group is known as Al Qaeda. Al Qaeda, when translated means “The Base”. It is a terrorist organization that seeks to remove western influence from the Middle East and spread its radical Islamic views. Al Qaeda’s most prominent leader was Osama bin Laden, until his death during a raid upon his compound in Pakistan. The Al Qaeda’s motivation stems primarily from extreme and deeply rooted religious beliefs. Their most used method of attack is through suicide bombers and improvised explosive devices. This organization has also used chemical warfare and at this time is believed to still actively seek to utilize chemical and biological agents as means to battle.
Lermontov, Mikhail. A Hero of Our Time. Ed. Neil Cornwall. Trans. Martin Parker. Rutland, Vermont: Charles E. Tuttle, 1995.
Under a backdrop of systematic fear and terror, the Stalinist juggernaut flourished. Stalin’s purges, otherwise known as the “Great Terror”, grew from his obsession and desire for sole dictatorship, marking a period of extreme persecution and oppression in the Soviet Union during the late 1930s. “The purges did not merely remove potential enemies. They also raised up a new ruling elite which Stalin had reason to think he would find more dependable.” (Historian David Christian, 1994). While Stalin purged virtually all his potential enemies, he not only profited from removing his long-term opponents, but in doing so, also caused fear in future ones. This created a party that had virtually no opposition, a new ruling elite that would be unstoppable, and in turn negatively impacted a range of sections such as the Communist Party, the people of Russia and the progress in the Soviet community, as well as the military in late 1930 Soviet society.
Herman, E. & Sullivan, G. O.1989. The Terrorism Industry: The Experts and Institutions That Shape Our View of Terror. New York: Pantheon.
"Brutality". Newsweek. 23 Apr. 1999 : 6. CNN. 2 Oct. 2002.Hawkins, Danielle. Personal Interview. 12 Oct. 2002.
The threat of global terrorism continues to rise with the total number of deaths reaching 32,685 in 2015, which is an 80 percent increase from 2014 (Global Index). With this said, terrorism remains a growing, and violent phenomenon that has dominated global debates. However, ‘terrorism’ remains a highly contested term; there is no global agreement on exactly what constitutes a terror act. An even more contested concept is whether to broaden the scope of terrorism to include non-state and state actors.
3) Field, Daniel. Rebels in the Name of the Tsar. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1976
The concept of terrorism is exceedingly difficult to define. Author Gerald Seymour first said in his book Harry’s Game that, “One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter”. Each individual may view terrorism in a different light. Because of this, there is currently no universal definition of terrorism. However, in recent years, it has become increasingly more important to form a definition of terrorism, especially while working in the media.
Terrorism has many forms, and many definitions. “Elements from the American definitional model define terrorism as a premeditated and unlawful act in which groups or agents of some principal engage in a threatened or actual use o...