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Homegrown Terrorism Research Paper

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It is apparent that surveillance and privacy are two large components when looking to address the issue of homegrown terrorism in society. Due to the surveillance verses privacy debate as well as the issue of homegrown terrorism becoming more common topics in everyday life in society, there is an increased need for understanding of each side of the argument and all associated elements in relation to sociology and social control. If all parts of individuals’ lives are open for observation, people will feel as though they cannot live their lives freely, even if they are not doing anything wrong or illegal. However, surveillance can also be a good thing because it can help to determine threats of crime or terrorism and foresee situations. “All …show more content…

From a structural functionalism perspective which is the theory that social institutions and processes in society all serve a function to keep society running. This perspective is based on the work of Émile Durkheim, who said the best way to understand society is to look at the roles different aspects of society play. Social deviance is seen as a transgression from the norm; terrorism is seen as a major deviant behaviour. Structural functionalism sees terrorism as a crime and that it is functional because it brings people together against it and beings a sense of belonging to the group opposing it. Society often uses terrorism as a way to reiterate the importance of social norms in the lives of people. Some structural functionalists also see terrorism as expected and a needed shock for society to inspire it to change for the better because they think social change is necessary for a strong society. Moreover, conflict theory is the perspective that sees conflict between competing groups as a way to force social change in society, such as when resources, status and power are unevenly distributed between groups in society and conflicts emerge to fight for social change. Conflict theorists understand terrorism as a response to injustice, often due to misguidance, illiteracy or idealistic goals and the violence is expressed due to individual aggression and used as their proof to show their willingness to

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