Terrorism as a Strategy

782 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Meaning and nature of terrorism

INTRODUCTION
Terrorism is one of the major ways to carry out violence either to prove a point or just to cause harm. Since 9/11, terrorism has been on the increase and the lack of a firm definition does not help solve the issue. To understand the ultimate purpose of terrorism, this essay will be looking at the concept of terrorism and why violence has to be used to prove a point in a state. It will also be looking at how many states are able to maintain their stand after a terrorist attack (using US and 9/11 as an example) as well as the destabilization it has caused in the state. Finally, it will argue how their goal may be the ultimate end for the attacked state.
IS TERRORISM A STRATEGY OR A TACTIC?
These two terms are often mixed up and misunderstood and it can be argued that it is one of the causes to no definite explanation as to what terrorism is. A tactic is a plan made and followed to get a desired result, strategy on the other hand is the use of the plan made (tactic) to achieve a goal. Brett Daniel defines these two in a simpler way; strategy is often called the ‘what we want to accomplish’ while tactics is referred to as the ‘how we are going to accomplish it.’ From the above definition, terrorism is a tactic used by a group of individuals to advance their beliefs and gain more power within a state (strategy).
CONCEPT OF TERRORISM
Since the 9/11 event, terrorism has been becoming more rampant and violent in nations of the world. Getting to the bottom and providing a solution has also been increasingly difficult and one of the main reasons is the lack of a confound definition. “Terrorism in the most widely accepted contemporary usage of term, is fundamentally and inherently political. It is also unavoidably about pow...

... middle of paper ...

...errorist attack known as 9/11, as a state, they came out stronger nation with strategies in how to not only defeat terrorism but help other states overcome and stand against attacks. If for instance, the state attacked does not possess the willpower, resources or support from other states, then what happens to the state?
CONCLUSION
Terrorism is one of the most complex cases in the international world today. It is carried out by a minority group trying to make their beliefs known to the government with the main aim of getting rid of the government to start a new regime; so it can be argued that it is a means to an end, it is using tactics (laid out plans) to ensure that the strategy (which implies taking over a government and starting a new regime). It is not all states that possess the willpower and ability to get back up after they have been attacked by terrorist.

Show More
Related

  • Case Study Analysis: The Case Of The Triangle Terror Group

    1123 Words  | 3 Pages

    What is the goal and objective of terrorism? The use of violence to influence a mass population to add hear to a set ideological, political, or criminal reason. Our case study has both of these elements. If we are to be more specific the group is labeled as a Home Grown Violent Extremist Group. This type of group is one of the hardest to detect due to their assimilation into our society. They do not stand out in any way or glaring fashion.

    Read More

  • GOODWIN AND BATTLE OF ALGIERS: CATEGORICAL TERRORISM

    961 Words  | 2 Pages

    Clearly, the UN definition being more general as any act of terror, it is found that revolutionary groups adopt the use of categorical terrorism because it is commonly cheaper than selective terrorism. Further, Goodwin argues that categorical terrorism is employed for the purpose of attacking and threatening what he calls “complicitous civilians.” Complicitous civilians are defined as (1) civilians who often benefit from state actions that the revolutionaries oppose, (2) those that support the state, (3) or civilians who have the ability to influence the state. The primary directive of categorical terrorism is to provoke complicitous civilians from further supporting the state. By applying intense...

    Read More

  • Crime And Conflict Nexus Analysis

    967 Words  | 2 Pages

    She argues that these major terrorist events would not have been successful without the use of crime. She goes further to say that crime and corruption facilitates terrorism. Here you see that terrorist use crime and corruption to increase their utility, which resulted in grave terrorist attacks. As far as crime goes, we see that their use in terror tactics are detrimental to states as well. In the article; “The Logic of Cartel Car Bombings in Mexico”, the use of terror tactics by Mexican cartels as a way of constraining the state was explored. The author argued that violence is used as a medium to create a cooperative target, in furthering this notion we find that the there is a positive

    Read More

  • Future Terrorism

    744 Words  | 2 Pages

    Over the past century, terrorism has advanced from random killings to enormous plans for terrorist groups. To understand terrorism, you must first define it. Terrorism as we all know it is hard to define and understand, and has many different definitions as it is used widely. The word "terrorism" stems from the word "terror", which means to instill fear in. People become terrorists when they take the actions towards instilling fear and terror upon people to prove a certain point or agenda.

    Read More

  • The September 11th Terroritst Attacks

    1078 Words  | 3 Pages

    Many analysts, researchers, and professors have tried to define the purpose of terrorism. Some believe that can only be achieved when we know how the mind of a terrorist works. The Encyclopedia Britannica describes terrorism as, “The systematic use of violence or threat of violence by organized groups to achieve specific goals. Terrorist activities may be directed against individuals, organizations or governments. Terrorism is employed by radical groups to obtain concessions from established governments, such as a change in policies unfavorable to them or the release of imprisoned members of their organizations…” (Encyclopedia Britannica. “Terrorism” 1987 T-169)

    Read More

  • McCarthyism

    1048 Words  | 3 Pages

    Terrorism is not like the "ism" of communism; communism is a political ideology that infringed on our capitalistic ways, but terrorism is much more destructive. As defined by the FBI, "the unlawful use of force against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population or any segment thereof, in the furtherance of political or social objectives". Terrorism is a technique, but as we have come to know it present day it is enacted by radical religious individuals who are opposed to globalization and the western way of life. The ideologies of these Islamic extremists do not transfer an ideology to terrorism, because it is spread among many groups and has become too broad a concept.

    Read More

  • Terrorism And State Terrorism: Three Types Of Terrorism

    1459 Words  | 3 Pages

    State terrorism is terrorism from above meaning that it is committed by governments against perceived enemies. It can be both external meaning international or internal meaning domestic. State terrorism is the official support by governments for policies of violence, repression, and intimidation. It is directed against enemies that the state has determined to be a threat against its interests or securities. State terrorism utilizes many types and degrees of violence to include warfare, genocide, assassinations, and torture. Warfare is the use of conventional military forces of the state against an enemy, whether the enemy is external or internal or a conventional or guerrilla combatant. Genocide is where the state uses its resources towards the elimination of a group. It does not differentiate between enemy combatants or enemy civilians, they are all considered enemies. Assassinations are selective applications of homicidal state violence where a single person or a select group of people are designated for elimination. Torture is an instrument of intimidation, interrogation, and humiliation that is also used on a select person of group of people. There are se...

    Read More

  • Understanding Terrorism: International and Domestic Perspectives

    1108 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Module one, I learned that terrorism is a result of physical harm or deadly acts of force with the intent of a political outcome by the use of terror for coercion. There are various types of terrorism such as international terrorism and domestic terrorism. International terrorism occurs outside of the United States with a purpose to influence the policy of a government by intimidation. International and Domestic terrorism both involve violent acts dangerous to human life that violate federal and state laws. Domestic terrorism occurs within the United States with the intention of coercion or intimidation by way of mass destruction, etc. Some forms of terrorism include Improvised explosive devices (IED), kidnappings, suicide bombings and

    Read More

  • The Strategic Logic of Suicide Terrorism by Pape, Bloom, and Horowitz

    1414 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Terrorism involves the use of violence by an organization other than a national government to cause intimidation or fear among a target audience;” at least, this is how Pape (2003) defines terrorism in his article “The Strategic Logic of Suicide Terrorism” (343). The goal of this article by Pape is to discuss suicide terrorism and how it “follows a strategic logic, one specifically designed to coerce modern liberal democracies to make significant territorial concessions” (343). Similar to Pape, Bloom (2004) and Horowitz (2010) also delve into the exponential increase of suicide terrorism and why it occurs. Although Pape, Bloom, and Horowitz concur that suicide terrorism is increasing, they disagree why it is so prominent. While the arguments presented from each of these researchers is powerful and certainly plausible, suicide terrorism is in fact not irrational, but strategic and is most often caused by state occupation and, when organized, aimed specifically at democracies.

    Read More

  • Is State Terrorism '?: Is State Terrorism A Valid Concept?

    1279 Words  | 3 Pages

    The concept of state terrorism is highly debated. The main opposition to state-terrorism declares that states have legitimate monopoly over violence, therefore, state-violence cannot be considered terrorism (Lacquer). Furthermore, conceptualizing particular properties of state-terrorism has furthered complicated the debate. For instance, should state-terrorism constitute external conflict or internal conflict; also is the normative strength of non-state violence as compelling as

    Read More

  • Organized Crime And Terrorism Essay

    1166 Words  | 3 Pages

    Terrorism has successfully been able to flourish due to the three main types of terrorism (Revolutionary, Religious and Separatist/Anti-colonist). By means of a bigger purpose, these various reasons for terrorism have created a bigger sense of fear for the public. Knowing what is happing, how it can be explained is a good way of assessing the issue of terrorism. It forms a coping organism for the government in regarding to creating prevention legislation. But unlike organized crime, terrorism has been proven to be difficult to control due to the foreign powers controlling it. It is a serious issue in America, and the World that America is a part

    Read More

  • What is the Definition of Terrorism?

    420 Words  | 1 Pages

    The U.S. Department of State defines terrorism as, “The calculated use of unlawful violence or threat of unlawful violence to inculcate fear; intended to coerce or to intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of goals that are generally political, religious, or ideological”. Whereas the Belgium Red Cross says that terrorism is committed “for the purpose of intimidating the population, forcing a third party to act or destablishing or destroying the fundamental structures of a country or of an international organization”.

    Read More

  • The Methodology of Terrorism

    4279 Words  | 9 Pages

    Terrorism is one of the most extensively discussed issues of our time and at the same time it is also one of the least understood. The term itself “terrorism” means many different things to different people, cultures, and races. As a result, trying to define or classify terrorism with one universal definition is nearly impossible. The definition of terrorism used in this research is a reflection of much of the Western and American way of defining it. The definition of terrorism is,

    Read More

  • The Issue Of Terrorism: Terrorism As A Controversial Issue

    1303 Words  | 3 Pages

    In this world there are many different topics of controversy. With every controversial topic comes different views and arguments explaining why people believe what they do. There are problems that can be just within one country or throughout the entire world. Terrorism affects everyone in the world, specifically us as Americans, which is why it is one of the biggest controversial topics. Of course with a topic as big as terrorism, there are emic and etic perspectives involved. With past history, there are specific countries and religions that we think of when we hear the word terrorism, specifically Afghanistan, located in the Middle East and the Muslim religion in that general area. Being part of the American

    Read More

  • Terrorism In Pakistan Essay

    1009 Words  | 3 Pages

    Terrorism has a tremendous impact on society. It is a rational act of violence and its purpose is to change behavior in a specific society. Terrorism is a political act that is meant to achieve a goal through the act of violence. The nature of terrorism is the nonselective targeting of individuals or a group in society with a goal. The intentions of

    Read More

More about Terrorism as a Strategy

Open Document