Terrorism is defined as the use of violence to create fear for ideological, political, and religious reasons. This terror is often than not targeted on noncombatant civilians. Terrorism is socially constructed and different from murder, assault, arson, demolition of property et cetera. The reason is that its impact is far-reaching consequences other than the immediate target victims (e.g. military or government). It is thus distinct from ordinary crime due to its powerful goals and objectives. It is prudent to note that terrorism, is a method and it may be used in times of conflict and peace (Law, 56). It is in most instances carried out by terrorist organizations. These organizations are well structured with a chain of command and a horizontal structure that makes their leaders non-unidentifiable or have no major role.
There are several case scenarios that can define different categories of terrorism. The actions of governments such as in the French and Russian revolutions in suppressing their own people espouse state terrorism. State terrorism is defined as nation’s rule that employs oppression and fear that reach similar to terrorism or amount to such proportions. In such a scenario, the terrorism is said to be structured band executed by the government of the day with the intention of achieving political goals and objectives. It may also be part of the governmental policy. In the French and Russian revolutions, the government used terrorist methods to intimidate and quash revolutions precipitated by the civil movements.
The next case scenario, nationalist groups revolting against European domination, falls in the nationalist-separist terrorism category. These nationalist groups used terrorism to scuttle the efforts of the European domination in their very own terrorism. This type of terrorism has notable objectives both ideological and political. In the African colonies, the nationalist groups had the objective of regaining their land, personal freedom and self rule that had been encroached by the European imperial powers (Weinberg, L,&W. L. Eubank, 73).. In most cases, this type of terrorism is genuine and supported by that share in the ideologies behind the revolt. In many African revolts, United States was a strong supporter due to its firm belief in the independence of all countries from any form of oppression.
Strikes and picketing by labor organizations, which result in violence, can be categorized as civil disorder. Civil disorder is a form of terrorism defined as violence that is collective in nature interfering with the normal functioning of the community. Labor organizations in their effort to put across their views and demands may engage in these acts that may push the law enforcers into action (Marcovitz, 19). The altercations may scale in to great heights disrupting the normal functions of the societies, cities, or towns. Some of the striking individuals may engage in criminal activities such as hooliganism, theft et cetera which generate oppression and fear amongst the citizenry.
In conclusion, terrorism has numerous definitions but the most standard of the all touches on the use of fear to achieve religious, political, and ideological reasons causes. The three case scenarios posited in this paper describe a small section of over known six categories of terrorism. The actions of governments in the French and Russian revolution amount to state terrorism, which in most cases is sanitized by the insinuation or linking of these acts to government policy. The revolting of the national groups against European dominance can be said to be genuine terrorism due to its objectives aimed at achieving greater good for colonized territories. Strikes and picketing by labor organizations can be summed as subtle terrorism that is equated to civil disorder. This form of terrorism is in most instances subdued by state law enforcers.
Works Cited
Law, R D. Terrorism: A history. Cambridge: Polity Press, 2009. Print.
Marcovitz, H. Terrorism. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers, 2001. Print.
Weinberg, L, and W. L. Eubank. What is terrorism?. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 2006. Print.
