Terrorism refers to the systemic and calculated use of violence or the threat of violence, against the civilian population, to instill fear in an audience for purposes of obtaining political goals. Terrorism can be committed by individuals or non-government groups; some consider governments capable of terrorism as well. One who carries out such acts is a terrorist, though that term is often used to describe political dissidents of all kinds.

Problems with the definition

If applied to states' actions with respect to the citizens of other states, most of 20th century warfare, from aerial bombing of cities to "scorched Earth" policies to "ethnic cleansing" would qualify, and many states would be "terrorist" by definition. Thus the term "terrorist" itself usually will be applied (in military terms) to non-state actors in asymmetric warfare.

As defined by the United States Department of Defense, terrorism is a very specific type of violence, although the term is often applied to other kinds of violence felt to be unacceptable. Typical terrorist actions include assassinations, kidnappings, bombings, drive-by shootings, lynchings, hijackings, and random killing. It is a political, not military, strategy and is generally conducted by groups not strong enough to mount open assaults, although it is used in peace, conflict, and war. The intent of terrorism is to induce a state of fear in an audience (not its victims) in order to cause the audience (or its government) to alter its behavior.

Many follow the BBC in believing the word to be overly political, and simply an adjective describing a moral disgust and disregard for opponents - in effect an excuse not to deal with them on a political level at all.

As if to illustrate this reality, the Earth Liberation Front is categorized as "terrorist" by the US FBI -- though they only claim arson and "animal liberation", have never done bodily harm of any type, and claim non-violence to all living things as an explicit part of their doctrine. This group cannot conceivably satisfy the US DoD definition, but the FBI finds it convenient to motivate its funding and "counter-terror" activities, gaining prestige for what would otherwise be ordinary arson cases.

Terrorist attacks and terrorists

Infamous acts of terrorism include the destruction of the World Trade Center as well as the Omagh Bombing in Northern Ireland, and the Oklahoma City bombing. See terrorist incidents, terrorism against Israel, terrorism against Arabs.

Some famous terrorist organizations of the 20th century include the Spanish ETA, the German Red Army Faction, the Irgun gang, the Irish Republican Army, Islamic Jihad, the Ku Klux Klan, the Palestine Liberation Organization, the Peruvian Shining Path, al-Qaeda, the Italian Red Brigade, the Stern gang, and the Weathermen.

Terrorism is extremely difficult for governments to control or prevent, especially if its practitioners are willing to risk or embrace certain death in the process. A few governments such as Iraq, Yemen, the United States and Libya, and the countries that supported the Taliban regime in Afghanistan have been accused of actually promoting or protecting certain terrorist groups.

History

Terrorism has been used throughout recorded history at least as far back as ancient Greece. Prior to the 19th century terrorists would give immunity to innocents not involved in the conflict. For example, Russian radicals intent on the assassination of Tsar Alexander II cancelled several actions out of concern it would injure women, children, elderly, or other innocents. Over the past two centuries, however, as states have become increasingly bureaucratized, the death of a single individual leader did not produce the political changes that the terrorists desired, so they turned to more indirect methods to cause general anxiety and loss of confidence in the government.

Today terrorism's use has increased among the alienated due to the psychological impact it can have on the public through the extensive media coverage that it can generate. Terrorism is often the last resort of the desperate, and can be and has been conducted by small as well as large organizations. Historically, groups may resort to terrorism when they believe all other avenues, including economics, protest, public appeal, and organized warfare, hold no hope of success (also see rioting). This suggests that perhaps one effective way to combat terrorism is to ensure that in any case where there is a population feeling oppressed, that at least some avenue of gaining attention to problems is kept open, even if the population in question is in the minority on an opinion. Other reasons to engage in terrorism include attempts to gain or consolidate power either by instilling fear in the population to be controlled, or by stimulating another group into becoming a hardened foe, thereby setting up polarizing us-versus-them dynamics (also see nationalism and fascism). A third common reason to engage in terrorism is to demoralize and paralyze one's enemy with fear; this sometimes works, but can also stiffen the enemy's resolve. Often, a particular group engaged in terrorist activities can be characterised by several of these reasons. In general, retribution against terrorists can result in an escalating tit-for-tat; however, it is often felt that if the consequences of engaging in terrorism are not swift and punishing, the deterrent to other terrorist groups becomes diminished.

Terrorism relies heavily on surprise and often occurs when and where least expected. Terrorist attacks can trigger sudden transitions into conflict or war. It is not uncommon after a terrorist attack for a number of unassociated groups to claim responsibility for the action; this may be considered "free publicity" for the organization's aims or plans. Because of its anonymous and often self-sacrificial nature, it is not uncommon for the reasons behind the action to remain unknown for a considerable period.

International Conventions on Terrorism

There are eleven major multilateral conventions related to states' responsibilities for combating terrorism.

In addition to these conventions, other instruments may be relevant to particular circumstances, such as bilateral extradition treaties, the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, and the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. Moreover, there are now a number of important United Nations Security Council and General Assembly Resolutions on international terrorism, including three important Security Council resolutions dealing with Libya's conduct in connection with the 1988 sabotage of Pan Am 103, which includes UN Security Council Resolutions 731 (January 21, 1992); 748 (March 31, 1992) and 883 (November 11, 1993).

The following list identifies the major terrorism conventions and provides a brief summary of some of the major terms of each instrument. In addition to the provisions summarized below, most of these conventions provide that parties must establish criminal jurisdiction over offenders (e.g., the state(s) where the offense takes place, or in some cases the state of nationality of the perpetrator or victim).

1. Convention on Offenses and Certain Other Acts Committed On Board Aircraft (Tokyo Convention, agreed 9/63--safety of aviation):

applies to acts affecting in-flight safety;
authorizes the aircraft commander to impose reasonable measures, including restraint, on any person he or she has reason to believe has committed or is about to commit such an act, when necessary to protect the safety of the aircraft and for related reasons;
requires contracting states to take custody of offenders and to return control of the aircraft to the lawful commander.

2. Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft (Hague Convention, agreed 12/70--aircraft hijackings):

makes it an offense for any person on board an aircraft in flight [to] "unlawfully, by force or threat thereof, or any other form of intimidation, [to] seize or exercise control of that aircraft" or to attempt to do so;
requires parties to the convention to make hijackings punishable by "severe penalties;"
requires parties that have custody of offenders to either extradite the offender or submit the case for prosecution;
requires parties to assist each other in connection with criminal proceedings brought under the convention.

3. Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Civil Aviation (Montreal Convention, agreed 9/71--applies to acts of aviation sabotage such as bombings aboard aircraft in flight):

makes it an offense for any person unlawfully and intentionally to perform an act of violence against a person on board an aircraft in flight, if that act is likely to endanger the safety of that aircraft; to place an explosive device on an aircraft; and to attempt such acts or be an accomplice of a person who performs or attempts to perform such acts;
requires parties to the convention to make offenses punishable by "severe penalties;"
requires parties that have custody of offenders to either extradite the offender or submit the case for prosecution;
requires parties to assist each other in connection with criminal proceedings brought under the convention.

4. Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against Internationally Protected Persons (agreed 12/73--protects senior government officials and diplomats):

defines internationally protected person as a Head of State, a Minister for Foreign Affairs, a representative or official of a state or of an international organization who is entitled to special protection from attack under international law;
requires each party to criminalize and make punishable "by appropriate penalties which take into account their grave nature," the intentional murder, kidnapping, or other attack upon the person or liberty of an internationally protected person, a violent attack upon the official premises, the private accommodations, or the means of transport of such person; a threat or attempt to commit such an attack; and an act "constituting participation as an accomplice;"
requires parties that have custody of offenders to either extradite the offender or submit the case for prosecution;
requires parties to assist each other in connection with criminal proceedings brought under the convention.

5. Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (Nuclear Materials Convention, agreed 10/79--combats unlawful taking and use of nuclear material):

criminalizes the unlawful possession, use, transfer, etc., of nuclear material, the theft of nuclear material, and threats to use nuclear material to cause death or serious injury to any person or substantial property damage;
requires parties that have custody of offenders to either extradite the offender or submit the case for prosecution;
requires parties to assist each other in connection with criminal proceedings brought under the convention.

6. International Convention Against the Taking of Hostages (Hostages Convention, agreed 12/79):

provides that "any person who seizes or detains and threatens to kill, to injure, or to continue to detain another person in order to compel a third party, namely, a State, an international intergovernmental organization, a natural or juridical person, or a group of persons, to do or abstain from doing any act as an explicit or implicit condition for the release of the hostage commits the offense of taking of hostages within the meaning of this Convention;"
requires parties that have custody of offenders to either extradite the offender or submit the case for prosecution;
requires parties to assist each other in connection with criminal proceedings brought under the convention.

7. Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts of Violence at Airports Serving International Civil Aviation (agreed 2/88--extends and supplements Montreal Convention):

extends the provisions of the Montreal Convention (see No. 3 above) to encompass terrorist acts at airports serving international civil aviation.

8. Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation, (agreed 3/88--applies to terrorist activities on ships):

establishes a legal regime applicable to acts against international maritime navigation that is similar to the regimes established against international aviation;
makes it an offense for a person unlawfully and intentionally to seize or exercise control over a ship by force, threat, or intimidation; to perform an act of violence against a person on board a ship if that act is likely to endanger the safe navigation of the ship; to place a destructive device or substance aboard a ship; and other acts against the safety of ships;
requires parties that have custody of offenders to either extradite the offender or submit the case for prosecution;
requires parties to assist each other in connection with criminal proceedings brought under the convention.

9. Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental Shelf (agreed 3/88--applies to terrorist activities on fixed offshore platforms):

establishes a legal regime applicable to acts against fixed platforms on the continental shelf that is similar to the regimes established against international aviation;
requires parties that have custody of offenders to either extradite the offender or submit the case for prosecution;
requires parties to assist each other in connection with criminal proceedings brought under the protocol.

10. Convention on the Marking of Plastic Explosives for the Purpose of Identification (agreed 3/91--provides for chemical marking to facilitate detection of plastic explosives, e.g., to combat aircraft sabotage):

(Consists of two parts: the Convention itself, and a Technical Annex which is an integral part of the Convention)

designed to control and limit the used of unmarked and undetectable plastic explosives (negotiated in the aftermath of the Pan Am 103 bombing);
parties are obligated in their respective territories to ensure effective control over "unmarked" plastic explosive, i.e., those that do not contain one of the detection agents described in the Technical Annex;
generally speaking, each party must, among other things: take necessary and effective measures to prohibit and prevent the manufacture of unmarked plastic explosives; take necessary and effective measures to prevent the movement of unmarked plastic explosives into or out of its territory; take necessary measures to exercise strict and effective control over possession and transfer of unmarked explosives made or imported prior to the entry-into-force of the convention; take necessary measures to ensure that all stocks of such unmarked explosives not held by the military or police are destroyed or consumed, marked, or rendered permanently ineffective within three years; take necessary measures to ensure that unmarked plastic explosives held by the military or police, are destroyed or consumed, marked, or rendered permanently ineffective within fifteen years; and, take necessary measures to ensure the destruction, as soon as possible, of any unmarked explosives manufactured after the date-of-entry into force of the convention for that state.
does not itself create new offenses that would be subject to a prosecution or extradition regime, although all states are required to ensure that provisions are complied within their territories.

11. International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombing (agreed 12/97--expands the legal framework for international cooperation in the investigation, prosecution, and extradition of persons who engage in terrorist bombings):

creates a regime of universal jurisdiction over the unlawful and intentional use of explosives and other lethal devices in, into, or against various defined public places with intent to kill or cause serious bodily injury, or with intent to cause extensive destruction of the public place;
like earlier conventions on protected persons and hostage taking, requires parties to criminalize, under their domestic laws, certain types of criminal offenses, and also requires parties to extradite or submit for prosecution persons accused of committing or aiding in the commission of such offenses.

During the negotiations on the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, many states supported adding terrorism to the list of crimes over which the court would have jurisdiction. This proposal was not adopted; however the Statute provides for a review confrence to be held seven years after the entry into force of the Statute, which will consider (among other things) an extension of the court's jurisdiction to include terrorism.

Types of Terrorism

Six broad categories of terrorist organizations can be identified, though the distinctions between them are not always precise.

State Terrorism

According to Spanish judge Ernesto Garzón, "State terrorism is a political system whose rule of recognition permits and/or imposes a clandestine, unpredictable, and diffuse application, even regarding clearly innocent people, of coercive means prohibited by the proclaimed judicial ordinance. State terrorism obstructs or annuls judicial activity and transforms the government into an active agent in the struggle for power."

Almost all the countries in Latin America have experienced periods of state terrorism under dictatorial or military governments; it is common that the initial 3-5 years after the coup d'etat are characterized by violence, arbitrary detentions, exile, torture, and "disappearing" people.

The population of the Soviet Union also suffered state terrorism during the Stalin era. Millions were semi-arbitrarily arrested, forced to sign ridiculous confessions, and executed or sent off to the Gulag labour camps. Communist regimes in other countries also practiced state terrorism to control the population, but to a lesser degree than the Soviet Union.

State terrorism is mantained through state-founded propaganda, mainly stating that it is for "National Security Reasons", that it's a short period of time, that the government is in state of war against guerrilla or terrorist groups (usually, the groups that are still loyal to the last president), and that they are working to restore the "Constitution and the Democracy".

The most pervasive elements of state terrorism are that detained people usually have no right to a judicial process and many people are executed under summary and secret trials.

Examples of State Terrorist Groups

- Hezbollah (Iran)
- Abu Nidal Organization (Iraq)
- Japanese Red Army (Libya)

Nationalist Terrorism

Nationalist terrorists seek to form a separate state for their own group, and try to draw attention to their fight for "national liberation."

Examples of Nationalist Terrorist Groups

Religious Terrorism

Religious terrorists use violence to further what they see as divinely commanded purposes.

Examples of Religious Terrorist Groups

Left-Wing Terrorism

Left-wing terrorists are out to destroy capitalism and replace it with a communist or socialist regime.

Examples of Left-Wing Terrorist Groups

Right-Wing Terrorism

Right-wing, or "neofascist," terrorists seek to do away with liberal democratic governments and create fascist states in their place. They frequently attack immigrants and are both racist and xenophobic, often specifically antisemetic.

Right-wing terrorists are among the least organized; most of them belong to various neo-Nazi groups.

Anarchist Terrorism

Anarchist terrorism was much more prevalent from the 1870s into the 1920s than it is at present. Several heads of state were assassinated, including President of the United States William McKinley. Recent violent protests against globalization may be introducing a resurgence of anarchist violence.

Very few functioning anarchist organizations have been noted.