Chapter 6
The Roots of Modern Terrorism
The origins of terrorism can be traced back to the nineteenth century. Over the years, it has developed to what is now referred to as modern terrorism. Social revolution and enlightenment began back in the 18th century when individuals realized that there were reasonable explanations for all activities that occurred. The learned individuals who sort to challenge previous assumptions of the past caused most of this changes, which were related to political, social and economic activities. Such changes resulted to the development of governments that sought to protect the poor individuals from being oppressed by the rich.
Therefore, the need for democracy developed, which resulted in creating tension between the ruling class and the governed individuals. Based on the American Revolution, it can be noted that most of the terrorism occurred in democratic countries. The American Revolution was more oriented against the British form of government that the country used. The French Revolution was more of the middle class and the poor revolting against the ruling class and the Nobles for not being taxed. The need to have a distribution of wealth and power fueled the development of the revolutions. These revolutions began as street revolutions, which were easily defeated resulting to the development of the underground movements. These underground movements started what is now modern terrorism. When the process of democratization became slow, the underground movement used violent means as a way of challenging the authority that was in existence. Murder and political assassinations increased as a form expressing that one structure either socialism or capitalism would collapse. Terrorism was further made stronger through the invention of dynamite. Possession of dynamite by small groups gave them the ability to launch major attacks.
In Russia, communism was viewed as a form of anarchism and revolution. These resulted to three different groups of individuals thinking that they could change and reform Russia. The state of things found the peasants still in poverty and the nobles exploiting the poor. The different groups had different approaches on how to change and reform Russia. One of the groups believed that violence was the only way that could create change in Russia. Writings by the leaders of the revolution played a greater role in inspiring individuals to be involved the revolution. Consequently, these actions led to police killings and several bombings in Russia. Some of the Russian revolutionaries used terrorism as a tool to overthrow the middle class and the governments. They further used terrorism to control any form of internal strife. These resulted in Russia being involved in a civil war that left the country in a bad state. This situation motivated the western countries and Europe to want to intervene, but Russia threatened to export terrorism thus managed to prevent their involvement.
Modern terrorists have developed theories and philosophies from other terrorists in the past and this motivates them to perform terrorism. Terrorism can be linked to several instances in Western history. Most of these terrorist activities are motivated by political agendas. However, the jihadist terrorism is motivated by religious reasons. The tactics used by the Jihadist terrorists date back to the 12th century. Jihadist terrorism is not conducted to attain certain aspect of a political agenda.
Is it possible to gain an understanding of current terrorism by studying recent history?
Terrorist activities from the jihadist movements are believed to have begun back in the 12th century and are still continuing today. Modern terrorists in the jihadist movement still base some of their philosophies and ideologies on the historical movements. These are mainly religious reasons. Terrorism activities are normally based on specific principles that the people involved believe will liberate them.
A common underlying principle is that terrorism is based on the idea that they are fighting for a certain cause. Studying recent history helps one can get the idea that political motivated terrorism was attributed to the need to attain democracy and change the standard of living among the poor. Terrorists believe that to achieve their goals they have to perpetrate violent activities.
Terrorists themselves study the past events of terrorism to allow them to develop tactics. The extent of studying history should not be restricted to a certain period as this may prevent one from uncovering the different reasons for terrorism (White 178). Revolutions in the 18th and 19th century portray the picture that underground movements developed as a way of trying to fight for the rights of the working class and the poor.
Experts in the terrorism field need to base the investigations on establishing the ideologies of the different terrorist groups. Learning these ideologies may help the security and government organizations develop counter strategies, which will prevent the loss of lives that currently result from the occurrence of terrorist activities. Chances of history repeating itself are high when the root causes of the terrorism activities follow a similar pattern as in the past.
Chapter 7 Summary
Long-Term Separatist Terrorism
This chapter provides an overview of the difference that sets the nationalistic and ethnic separatist terrorism from other forms of terrorism. One of the main goals of the ethnic and nationalistic terrorism is that have a certain structure goal in mind. The ethnic terrorists normally fight for purposes of trying to achieve national identity. These groups will mobilize communities to join and fight the oppression that may be emanating from the government persecution.
Separatist violence is viewed as one of the most risky threats to Europe. Their form of violence is different from other forms of terrorism. Political terrorist will use violence to make a political statement, whereas religious terrorists will use violence to make a theological statement. However, separatist violence main agenda is to cause violence.
The chapter also provides a discussion of the struggles that faced Ireland. Rebellions in Ireland began early. The British presence in Ireland and their need to increase their presence resulted to a series of riots and rebellions in Ireland. A common separatist movement that has been discussed is the IRA, which fought against the Irish government. The British government helped the Unionists to fight the IRA. The Unionists are believed to cause terror through repression, revolutionary violence, and vengeance. The IRA believed that union with the south would result to independence.
The separatist movements are believed to be more rational than other terrorist groups. Compared to other terrorists groups, it is easier to develop negotiations with the separatists movements, as was the case in Ireland. Further, it is crucial to note that the separatist movements turn to violence when they see it as the only means that can bring some change.
Chapter 8 Summary
Nationalist and Endemic Terrorism
Colonial period resulted to the development of different nations rebelling against the colonialist. These developed a certain form of terrorism groups that were determined to free their countries from the control of the Western colonial power.
Different tactics were employed to achieve independence in the different colonial countries. In Cyprus, the terrorist movements were not large in numbers, but developed and used certain strategies to penetrate the urban areas, which resulted in creating international attention. This later assisted the country attaining independence from the British. Unlike the terrorism in Cyprus, the Mau Mau movement in Kenya used a more rural approach. Most of the fighting activities were conducted in the forests. This rural resistance developed from the need to remove the colonial agricultural policies. The fight between the British soldiers and the Mau Mau fighters resulted in the inhumane acts. The British voters feared the counterterrorist attacks from the Mau Mau, which later resulted in Kenya attaining independence.
In Russia, the existence of two separate movements resulted in the escalation of violence. These emanated as a need of certain states to break away from the Russian federation. The break way states led to the development of criminal enterprises that were involved in the black market. Terrorism in a country like Turkey was based on both religious and political reasons. China was faced with ethnic violence as the Uighar population sought to be sovereign from China.
In a country like Rwanda, the form of terrorism involved massacre and killings between the two main tribes in the country. Tribal violence had escalated to the point that people of the same country found it easy to kill one another.
Has the United States war on terrorism had any effects on the state sponsored terrorism?
The United States believes that activities of certain states contribute to the promotion of terrorist activities. For instance, Libya has been a country that has been involved in state sponsored terrorism since the 1980s (White 33). It has claimed responsibility for several bombings. However, the efforts of the United States have resulted to the end of the Sate sponsorship of Libya through the killing of their president Moammar Gadhafi.
The extent of the war on terrorism seems to increase in different directions. Currently, Syria is in crisis. Militant groups have more resources and are engaging terrorism. The end of state sponsored terrorism has resulted to massive revolutions in the various governments. Stability has reduced, and incidences of terrorism activities have increased.
The massive efforts of United States on war on terrorism have targeted nations that have had the ability to produce nuclear weapons. United States massive pressure has resulted to some of the state sponsored terrorism nations eradicating their nuclear programs. Most of the regimes involved in state sponsored terrorism normally deny their involvement in terrorism even after there being evidence of their involvement. The challenge comes in developing structures that will prevent states from funding terrorist groups.
Work Cited
White, Jonathan Randall. Terrorism and homeland security. 7th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth
Cengage Learning, 2012. Print.
