Terrorist Typologies: Compare And Contrast Terrorists

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

The word ‘terrorism’ can be traced back to the French Revolution and the reign of terror committed against the population of France in the 1790s. During this time, thousands of people were killed and the general population was severely oppressed. Also, some of the first instances of terrorist tactics, such as assassination and intimidation, were witnessed in the killing of prominent officials and other opponents of the Revolution. In general, terrorists aim to incite fear in the population through pre-meditated violent acts and gain publicity as a medium in achieving their goals. Such acts include taking hostages, bombings and assassinations, all of which create fear and compliance in a victim or audience. Terrorism can be distinguished from other types of political violence through its disregard for and intentional harming of innocent civilians. Also, terrorists usually adopt a state of mind where one side is always good and any opposition is bad and deserves to be punished. As a result, terrorists will always have some supporters who share the same radical thoughts as them and thus terrorism, as a whole, will always be accepted as a legitimate use of violence. This is the reasoning behind the famous phrase by Gerald Seymour, “One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter”(QUOTE

The use of terrorism started in 1795 relating to the reign of terror leaded by the French Government. The reason people become terrorist is because they see it as their only choice or is a sign for defending their religion. “The personal pathway model suggests that terrorists came from a selected, at risk population, who have suffered from early damage to their self-esteem,” (psychologist Eric D. Shaw). This explains how young adults are becoming terrorist to find themselves, also because they are not happy with who they are. Terrorist technology has changed over the course.

During the years there were multiple types of terrorism attacks that were done for different reasons. What I mean is that terrorism started to achieve its own identity. Nationalist movements which are known as, “Efforts on the part of a group or a nation to obtain political independence and autonomy.”(Mcentire, 2008) These types of attacks started to flourish in the Middle East, and other places such as India and Ireland. (Mcentire, 2008) Anarchists are known to be those who, “oppose specific government or all governments. “(Mcentire,

Terrorism is an act of violence, usually done in the public sphere, which is used to incite fear in a population in order to coerce change in public opinion or a government’s position on an issue. In many parts of the world, groups wage war with their countries, either to separate from the government or to overthrow it entirely. Sometimes these people are treated unfairly by their government, and their struggles are justified. Other times, these groups use violence against both military and civilian targets, terrorizing innocent bystanders to get what they want—these groups are terrorists. Often, though, it is difficult to tell the difference.

The following is a brief explanation of the motivation of the Islamic Jihad Group. Included is a response to how the knowledge of the Islamic Jihad Group’s motivation might assist in planning counter terrorist strategy. Included are explanations as to how the motivations of terrorists differ from the motivations of other violent criminals and how cultural, socioeconomic, or political factors could lead a person to become a terrorist or criminal.

Acts of terrorism are typically political oriented and ideologically motivated, ranging from specific goals expressed in terms of the might of political nation-states to more general purposes connected to the dilemma of certain people and groups. Therefore, terrorism can result from demands made by ethnic groups to receive representation in an existing political community or have its own state be formed, while terrorism can also be part of ideological fights for the acknowledgment of diminished expressions of ideas and ways of life. Because of the essentially political ideological objectives of terrorism, the fundamental ideas of terrorism are important to consider as the inspiring forces that fuel terrorist groups and individuals.

The Central Intelligence Agency defines terrorism as “premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents” (CIA). This term was specifically created to differentiate terrorism between other acts of violence. These doings of terrorism are not just any act but are specific acts of violence. A dominant reason behind terrorism tends to fall upon religious beliefs and culture ties.

In the article “Profile of a Terrorist” by Cindy Combs, the author maps out and discusses the different causes of terrorism committed by people. Understanding and determining what drives people to terrorism is no easy task. Why do people choose to commit acts of terrorism? Why do people choose to become rebellious and wreak havoc on so many innocent civilians? Combs discusses the different types of terrorists as suggested by Frederick Hacker who was a Vienna-born psychiatrist and psychoanalyst and expert on aggression and terrorism.

ISIS is identified as a Salafi extremist group, which refers to a very conservative outlook on the Islamic religion. With these abhorrent views of non-Muslims, many of the members have resorted to domestic violence, including suicide bombings and other forms of provoking fear in the innocent. Countries such as Iraq and Syria have made multiple attempts to combat ISIS, but they are currently deemed too powerful to be seized from power. A number of factors contribute to the horrific actions that are executed by the Islamic State, such as the disarmament of Saddam Hussein’s military back in the early 2000’s. Once the former Iraqi soldiers realized that they could not fight for their country, they transitioned into ISIS fighters and began to advocate for a much different cause- one that would affect millions of lives all over the

Many sieges, beheadings and other terrorist attacks are what ISIS is most famous for – hated by the world for killing their loved ones – but why do they do it? “They wanted to control the entire world. To annihilate the infidels, the Christians and creating an Islamic state. One Islamic state” – Amir Ahmed Ali. (ISIS Fighter: We wanted to take over the world. Rudaw. N.p., 30 Mar. 2015.). Many people are afraid that this violent religious group is unstoppable, and that they will in fact take over the world. The culture of ISIS is extremely religious with “carefully considered beliefs.” (Wood, Graeme. “What ISIS Really Wants.” The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 15 Feb. 2015.) So if they are so religious, do they perceive themselves as violent, or do they think they are doing the right thing? It is hard to answer, but all anyone knows is that violence is in their culture. The dominant culture of most people in this world find ISIS extremely hard to understand, and to most of the world, this group is viewed as one of the most dangerous groups ever to live. This is why the culture of ISIS can inform the study of violence, and help gain better

As history, has shown us, as time progresses things begin to change. We can take that same aspect and apply it to terrorism. Terrorism has shown that it can change as history progresses as well. Typically, terrorist groups are organized by a hierarchy. Now, terrorist organizations are cell-orientated(McEntire,2009). That means they resemble a network of many groups(McEntire,2009). In the past, terrorism was supported by states; however, terrorist have become more independent when it comes to gaining money to support what they stand for (McEntire,2009). Next, before it was easy to differentiate between crime and terrorism, now it is more difficult since terrorist relay on crime to raise money(McEntire,2009). McEntire, also states, that the

Contrary to Islamic teachings against suicide and killing people, terrorist groups such as “ISIS”, Islamic State, and AL Qaeda has used a political platform of Islam known as “Islamism” as an excuse for a war of terrorism. 1988 was the year that Al Qaeda was from by its founder Osama Bin Laden. Following Bin Laden’s death in 2011, Al Qaeda continues, the most recently formed group ISIS has aimed to start a war with the West and United States.

The ISIL group is the most militaristic Islamic group know to date and are religiously fanatical. ISIL is able to attract fundamentalist Sunni Muslims from across the Muslim world. ISIL desires to unite the Arab world under an Islamic caliphate and implement sharia law. This idea for this system was inspired by this 600 AD nation, the Umayyad CaliThe ISIL group is the most militaristic Islamic group know to date and are religiously fanatical. ISIL is able to attract fundamentalist Sunni Muslims from across the Muslim world. ISIL desires to unite the Arab world under an Islamic caliphate and implement sharia law. This idea for this system was inspired by this 600 AD nation, the Umayyad

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.