Essay on Motivations and Causes of Terrorism

Modern terrorism, as deduced from this literature, is acts to violence strategically used by secular groups spanning international borders with the aim of achieving a desired outcome. Further, it can be seen as organized activity whose genesis can be traced back to the 1880’s. From then to now there are identifiable traits and patterns observed from different (terrorist) groups which have allowed for the conceptualization of the term modern terrorism. This concept therefore, can be best explained in the context of being a wave or having a life cycle. That means it is a cycle of activity demarked by phases from inception and expands along the way then eventually it declines. The world, thus far, has experienced four waves of modern

“Terrorism's particularly heinous but highly attractive means to achieve political objectives or even radically restructure political foundations is manifest within societies in all reaches of the world. While the practical application of terrorist methodologies comes across as a relatively straightforward craft, the conceptual and ideological understanding, and subsequent evaluation of its socio-political influence, implementation, and psychological impacts present difficult questions, and in some cases conceivably insurmountable obstacles” (Romaniuk 2014, para

This paper will seek to understand what really motivates terrorists to commit the acts that make them so infamous. We are assuming that the chief motivating factor behind the decisions of terrorist organizations is the political outcome of their acts balanced against the risk and collateral damage inflicted to achieve this end. We will also weigh in the appeal of terrorism on potential recruits in weak states and determine how the motivations of the group become the motivation of the individual and how this benefits the decentralized organization of terrorist organizations like al Qaeda.

Terrorism and Communism both represent threats to American exceptionalism and United States National Security domestically and abroad. However, the machinery of both comprises different internal parts. Albeit, terrorism can be used as a technique directly or indirectly by governments to reach an end.

Terrorism share several similarities during and after the cold war, which includes pursuing independence from government, having a rebellion movement, and related terrorist action or method as a holy war. However, terrorism shares several differences during and after the cold war. First, terrorism in the cold war change status quo or acquire mass support. Modern terrorism expanded by using force involving advanced weaponry bombs, suicidal squad, sabotage, intimidation, smuggling, kidnapping, threat,

Political terror refers to two separate phenomena, state terror and terrorism. The fundamental difference between the two is that the former utilizes violence to legitimize its repressive structure while the latter utilizes it to oppose (and potentially overthrow) an oppressive institution. In order to understand terrorism it is important to first review the different elements of state terror. Different policies can constitute as active forms of state terror such as government surveillance, apartheid law, media repression, etc. However, special attention will be focused on the apogee of state terror: genocide which generally utilizes and encompasses all other forms. References to genocide in world history can be found

The Cold War and the War on Terrorism both have similar and different events that make each war important to think about. The U.S. has dealt with the Cold War for decades and today the War on Terrorism continues since 2001. However, the viewpoints of culture, society and other variables change how each war was or is viewed. Tactics used by the U.S. varied for each war and we will look closer at those tactics. We also need to consider if the approach for the War on Terrorism is even the right one? First let’s learn a little more on each war and then we will compare and contrast them.

In the year of 1979 it was a major turning point in international terrorism. The disintegration of the post- cold war states, and the cold war legacy of a world awash in advanced conventional weapons and know- how, has assisted with the spread of terrorism worldwide. Arab-afghans have and are using their experience to support local rebellions in North Africa, Kashmir, Chechnya, China, Bosnia, and the Philippines.

Since the end of the Cold War, there was the prospect of international conflict and state aggression would cease and be managed by international organisation. The Cold War was a stable environment, everyone knew who was in charge, what side they were on and this was characterized by “business as usual.” The scope of terrorism today is far broader than it has ever been. Conflicts have become internecine, there are ethnic and cultural clashes. International terrorism is a new phenomenon, so the question is: how do we combat this new phenomenon?

Discussing terrorism and motivations leading to terrorism brings up thoughts of random acts of violence. These acts are mostly considered to be methods of insane men. Most of these modern terrorists follow their own political agenda with each group trying to achieve a particular goal.

Terrorism in the twenty-first century has some similarities and differences from terrorism in the twentieth century. Terrorism is, in its broadest sense, the use or threatened use of violence in order to achieve a political, religious, or ideological aim. Also useful to remember that because the two entities involved, the terrorists and the terrorized, are on the opposite end of the political, religious or ideological continuum, the same act is viewed by them differently. There is much sense in the phrase one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter.

Civilians have also played a major role in these conflicts. The constant threat of murder lies in the deep recesses of one’s thoughts. Ruin, torture, and slaughter dominates the minds of ethnic minorities. Minorities become the target by the impoverished majority. No one will be so confident to believe that every war is just and necessary.

The history of terrorism can be traced back as far as the French revolution. Some of these acts of terrorism only seem as distant reminders of our past, but at the same time, are not a far cry from today’s brutal acts; and although these acts seem distant, it doesn’t also mean they are no longer in the thoughts of individuals in today’s time.

Think of the word terrorism. What is the first thing that comes to mind? One might think of kidnapping, assassination, bombing, or even genocide and guerrilla warfare. Because it is such a broad and complex issue, an all-encompassing definition is hard to formulate. The United States Department of Defence defines terrorism as…

Terrorism, which has been around for as long as people can remember, has been on the rise for the past ten years. Terrorists usually use murdering, kidnapping, hi-jacking and bombings to achieve their political purpose. For instance, according to Wikipedia.com (2006), in 1985 816 deaths, then in 2003, more than 1,000 people died by terorist acts around the world. In recent years, terrorism seems to be at a new height and attacks are much more violent than in the past. Unfortunately, in spite of many anti-terror campaigns, projects and organizations are being created for prevention (to prevent) terrorism, the number of terrorists only is increasing. These days terrorism is all over the world.