Terrorist movements

International Relations

Petra Cochov
2 021 words
13th January 2016

Every one of us has already heard term terrorism but wondered what does it actually mean.
It is a bit difficult to describe one permanent definition. Although the most appropriate
describing of terrorism would be that terrorism is an act of intentional or planned murder

which can put innocent people in danger for any political or religious purpose. Terrorism
evolved to popular feature of todays world during the late 20th Century. Terrorism can be
implemented by individual, specific groups and organizations in order to make, for example
political impact because its difficult to achieve absolutistic governance by formal political
agreements. Its main motive is to gain power with capability to control and influence politics.
Since we now live in time when terrorist affairs happen in all around the world it is necessary
to look at this problem in several ways. This essay is going to focus on causes of terrorism on
individual level. The most important question is what motivates terrorists to do what they do
and how does their social background affect them. Minor questions include terrorist strategies
and also terrorist movement examples and their impact on society.
Almost each and every terrorist differ from each other in individual way. It means that there
can be hardly found identical pair of two terrorists who are completely identical in their
motives and social background. In order to find out what drives each terrorist to take typical
menacing actions, each psychologist or any skilled person in this field must take a look at
each person in very deep personal aspect. A terrorist usually has his own inner demons
which hunt him and shape his personality in ways which result in consequences which we can
easily imagine. Mental illness, infectious disease or any trauma can affect the culmination of
terrorists attitudes, behavior and beliefs.1 However a participant can be predominantly forced
or brainwashed by his ideologies, religion or nationalism. 2 All these sections, especially
religion, eventually form a bunch of ideas in individual which create the final shape of his
internal psyche. Another very important aspect for motives of any terrorist participant is a
need to belong into some group. 3 It is a desire to obtain individual progress within the
collective group while fulfilling his religious commitments. Personal motives in terrorist kind
of approach must satisfy both private psychological needs but profitable gains and obligatory
duties within a group as well. Thus what actually causes terrorism? Unfortunately, there is no
general root cause which could be applied in theory. However there exist tendencies and
predispositions which can be similar within each participant. The most prevailing
predispositions for root cause of terrorism can be for example lack of freedom, weak or
1 Tore Bjorgo, Root causes of terrorism: Myths, reality and ways forward ( London, Routledge,
2005), pg.17
2 Bjorgo, Root causes of terrorism: Myths, reality and ways forward, pg.18
3 Ibid
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corrupted government, rapid technology modernization, extremist ideologies of particular

religion or sect, wars and violence, repression, religious or ethnic discrimination, social
classes and injustice etc.4 These are just a few of many reasons why some regions of the world
are more prone to becoming affected by extremist actions like terrorism.
From practical perspective terrorist strategies or tactics are the most crucial plans. Operations
like these are sometimes considered thoughtless but many people dont know that terrorist
groups or individuals are far from randomly choosing their approach. Their tactics are usually
very well thought-out and many times only small amount of people can foresee their actions.
While some actions are predictable it is also common that local circumstances and events can
greatly affect the result of prepared actions. Frequently all terrorist strategies use destruction
and violence to propagate their actions or to attract public attention. One of the main
strategies which conclude in public chaos is creating an illusion of social division and fear in
order to generate mess and disorder.5 This technique is generally used by revolutionists and
terrorists who work for a state. By following measures they focus on establishing dictatorship
or absolutism. Its commonly more effective to horrify population than getting rid of direct
enemies to manipulate publics opinion. Eventually people lose their trust that government
can protect its citizens and prevent the attacks. Another strategic orientates on construction of
anarchy. Primary aim is destroying or diminishing particular government in order to replace it
with another one. 6 Intention to weaken the effectiveness of government is accomplished by
political attacks on officials. If afterwards state viciously intervenes it might destroy its own
good reputation. The efficiency of specific terrorist group is validated if particular
government is sufficiently destroyed. Next very important aspect of different type of strategy
is associated with economics. 7 Various steps are taken in pursuance of disrupting states
economy. Interrupting agricultural and international connections or cutting states income
from tourism is crucial. Purpose of this strategy is to harm government as well. If terrorist
group manages to assault international trade of particular country it can strengthen its
4 Tore Bjorgo, Root causes of terrorism: Myths, reality and ways forward (London, United Kingdom,
Routledge, 2005), pg.258, 259, 260
5 Christopher C. Harmon, Terrorism today (Abingdon, United Kingdom, Routledge, 2008), pg.39
6 Harmon, Terrorism today, pg.40,41
7 Ibid
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domination or control over specific region. Eventually all the steps which are followed by
certain terrorist group have a particular meaning or purpose to accomplish intended outcome.
Social background and religion goes hand in hand. Each terrorist creates a profile which
eventually represents himself and his own country. A research taken in 1978 showed that
arrested terrorists from all around the world usually came from middle class families. 8 In
every part of the world it might slightly differ because European citizens usually come from
wealthier families while those of Latin America or Middle East do not. There is smaller
likelihood that employed person would become a terrorist than somebody who is homeless.
As a matter of fact the biggest number of terrorist originally comes from people who are
attending a school or unable to find a job.9 The poverty doesnt always stand for a key role of
suicide terrorism. Terrorists are raised in great hatred and anger towards how are their
compatriots, friends or family treated by other nationalities. Sacrifice in form of suicide often
means a heroic act. For example in families elder brothers who commit suicide act in order to
be accepted into heaven signifies great example and inspiration. Whether the prevailing
religion or the specific environment triggers participation in terrorism is equally questionable.
There is a type of religious terrorism called sacred terrorism which became significant in
21st century.10 Religious type of terrorism is specifically worrisome because every nonmember is considered evil and dangerous. Al-Qaeda is a great example of religious terrorist
group. It is a pleasure for them to engage in violent behavior in order to please the commands
of their deity and their motivation is also reversing present post-Westphalian state system
which focuses on establishing peace. 11 No matter where a person comes from or where does
he live, religion can affect or support persons own decision to participate in terrorism and
vice versa. However it doesnt always have to be a religion which implements suicidal or selfdestructive ideas and thoughts. Political situation and ethnic discrimination can have immense
impact on individual as well. Everything also depends on how prone is a person to have a
violent feedback.
8 Bjorgo, Root causes of terrorism: Myths, reality and ways forward, pg.34
9 Bjorgo, Root causes of terrorism: Myths, reality and ways forward, pg.35
10 Michael E. Brown, Contending with terrorism (Cambridge, United Kingdom, Mass.: MIT Press,
2010), pg.37
11 Brown, Contending with terrorism, pg.39
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Terrorism is associated with suicide attacks as well. A suicide attack is a situation when a
person intentionally kills himself with objective to kill others, in the service of a political or
ideological goal. 12 Terrorists are usually very devoted and determined to kill themselves for a
specific reason. They believe that this kind of action will fulfill their life purpose. People are
scared of these terrorists who are capable of self-sacrifice due to impossibility of stopping
them for their strong believes. Suicide terrorism is well known that has been more lethal than
any other form of terrorism while it has been predominantly explained as being a result of
religious fanaticism. 13 Other explanations of suicide terrorism are linked to personality
characteristics, psychological trauma, poverty and revenge for personal suffering or for the
loss of a family member. 14 Suicidal terrorism is being prepared by a group rather than by an
individual. Self activated destruction which is frequently incomprehensible by lots of people
has always been considered mindless and terrifying. A motive to petrify people is many times
very effective in forcing a government to make a concession. However it is also the most
violent action which never leaves anyone indifferent while perpetrators believe that by
performing such an attack they serve the greater good. They also think that an ultimate
suicidal action is always worth it no matter how much cost it has to take.
It is beyond the bounds of possibility to agree on profiling suicide bombers due to their
diverse backgrounds. 15 More and more analysts claim that reasons for suicide attacks do not
have much to do with mental illness. Yet the most prevailing cause or generator is the feeling
of hopelessness while the hope itself keeps a perpetrator away from carrying out a suicide
attack.16 Individual motivations to becoming a suicide bomber include already mentioned
strong commitment to a group, a desire for revenge, an expectation of benefits after death and
personal crisis.17 Great amounts of psychological research have been made for the sake of
12 Bjorgo, Root causes of terrorism: Myths, reality and ways forward, pg.71
13 Bjorgo, Root causes of terrorism: Myths, reality and ways forward, pg.70
14 Ibid
15 Brown, Contending with terrorism, pg.62
16 Bjorgo, Root causes of terrorism: Myths, reality and ways forward, pg.78
17 Brown, Contending with terrorism, pg.62,63
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understanding suicidal terrorism profoundly. The majority of suicide bombers comprises of

men who are in young age from 16 to 28 and also being single. 18 The reason for this could be
that younger men are generally predisposed to behave more fiercely or impulsively. Men are
also prone to react aggressively if being socially isolated or treated viciously. While many
people think that terrorists are usually Muslim men who worship Allah, it is quite often an
illusion created by media. Analysts claim that there are as many Muslim terrorists in the world
as those of Christian or any other religion.
A great example of religious terrorist group is Al-Qaeda (in English The Base) while at the
same time non religious group Irish Republican Army called IRA has some similarities with
Al-Qaeda, but both of these movements differ in many ways. Al-Qaeda is militant Sunni
Muslim group founded by Saudi Osama Bin Laden and Palestinian Abdullah Azzam in late
1980s and IRA is armed Catholic movement functioning in Northern Ireland since the
beginning of the 20th century. The difference between these two groups is that Al-Qaeda
operates as worldwide entity to globalize its operations and it gains its funds by trading
drugs.19 On the other hand IRAs operations are solely restricted in Ireland and its incomes
come from robbery, smuggling, drug dealing etc. 20 Al-Qaeda was designed to establish
Muslim hegemony but IRAs aim was to set Ireland free apart from United Kingdom. The
Muslim group is anti-western oriented and its prime enemy is considered to be The United
States. The Christian group focuses on establishing Irish republic through its political wing
Sinn Fein as well, while it also concentrates on weakening British domination over Northern
Ireland. 21Although Al-Qaeda is strongly based on religion, its objectives are rather political
than religious as of any other terrorist group. 22 The biggest attack which Al-Qaeda takes
responsibility for is the series of plane crashes into World Trade Center buildings in New York
18 Bjorgo, Root causes of terrorism: Myths, reality and ways forward, pg.75

19 Brown, Contending with terrorism, pg.69

20 Harmon, Terrorism today, pg.199
21 Ibid
22 Mark Sedgwick, Al-Qaeda and the Nature of Religious Terrorism, Taylor & Francis Group,
access date January 12, 2016, http://www.academia.edu/322255/AlQaeda_and_the_Nature_of_Religious_Terrorism
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City in 2001. Yet in 1996 a single bomb attack was carried out in Manchester by Irish
Republican Army. The distinction in both cases is that the bombing in Manchester was
announced in advance to prevent fatalities while in New York City the attack was determined
to harm and scare people off. As we can see terrorist movements like these can have a huge
impact on day-to-day affairs or potentially on global events.
The most doubted controversy related to terrorism is how to prevent it. Some would agree that
negotiations might be a good tool for communication with terrorist groups, yet it might not
work with every type of terrorist organization, like Al-Qaeda. 23 This is due to the fact that
every terrorist group is different and its motivations can be based on profit or ideology. 24 In
other words not every terrorist organization will be open to negotiating or any other kind of
mutual communication. Even though we might put an effort to prevent terrorism in political,
social, psychological, or military measures it is always highly unpredictable when, where and
whether another attack is actually going to happen. Some terrorist groups may even disappear
unexpectedly or cease to exist by chance.

Bibliography:
Bjorgo, Tore, Root causes of terrorism: Myths, reality and ways forward, 1450-1550. London:
Routledge. 2005
Brown, Michael E., Contending with terrorism: Roots, strategies and responses. Cambridge,
Mass.: MIT Press, 2010
Harmon, Christopher C., Terrorism today. Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. 2008

23 Bjorgo, Root causes of terrorism: Myths, reality and ways forward, pg.226
24 Ibid
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