Terrorism or the threat of it is a serious issue that affects most of the world.
Most recently the suicide bombers in Bali previously the many terrorist actions, September 11, PKK, ETA, Islamic Jihad movements, disturbing this list continues to grow. During recent years new terrorist groups have been publicly largely reflective of religious concern. But is it religion or action under the guise of religion. There are terrorist actions to gain their own territory such as the PKK, ETA and those representing factions from Palestine. Therefore in many cases the aims of the terrorist are territorial and political and not religious.
There is no one accepted definition of terrorism. The words ‘terror’ emerged prominently during the ‘reign of terror’ of the French Revolution, from 1789 to 1799, and since taken on a wider meaning. Wilkinson (1986) p37, argues that the problem of a definition of terrorism ‘has bedevilled public debate and informed analysis concerning terrorism and this is evident from the confused commentary in the more sensational literature on the subject.’
Many definitions of ‘terrorism’ create confusion. It has been argued that even in the United States, the term terrorism means very different things to different people. The Collins Dictionary (2002) describes terrorism as, ‘the systematic use of violence and intimidation to achieve political ends.’ Various other dictionaries also refer to terrorist activities as especially a means of coercion. These descriptions obviously apply to many terrorist acts.
David Freestone (1981) p195, argues that terrorism is recognised without difficulty, except by lawyers ‘and in particular International Lawyers when a number of definitional problems are presented. I argue that the ‘laws’ are a matter of interpretation.
In 1977 Wilkinson described terrorism as ‘one of the oldest techniques of psychological warfare.’ The recent events in London 2005, may reveal that such terrorist as suicide bombers are conducting psychological warfare as they feel that they are unable to be fully part of the community in which they reside and experience an aimless in life. That they feel a sense of isolation. There can be no doubt that in many cases terrorism provides a profound satisfaction and a sense of fulfilment through total dedication to the point of self sacrifice and in some cases providing a sense of power over other human beings. We must ask ‘why is there an apparent growth in this form of terrorism?’
