Terrorism

Abstract

The term terrorism is often confused with words like insurgency, crime, rebellion and warfare. In reality, there are some similarities and differences between them.

Table of Contents

Introduction4

Discussion4

Definition of terrorism4

Terrorism and insurgency5

Differences5

Similarities6

Terrorism and crime6

Differences6

Similarities7

Terrorism and rebellion8

Differences8

Similarities9

Terrorism and warfare9

Differences9

Similarities10

Conclusion10

References11

Terrorism

Introduction

The term terrorism means the unlawful or illegitimate use of violence for the attainment of set objectives. The definition gives rise to the thought that insurgency, crime, rebellion and warfare could be the synonyms of the word terrorism. In fact, there are a lot of differences between terrorism and crime, insurgency, rebellion and warfare. These differences could be in the form of their different objectives, ways and intensity of operations, their targets etc. However, there are some similarities too, and there are some points where they inter-link.

Discussion

Definition of terrorism

There are over hundred definitions of terrorism, and no single definition can explains the precise description of terrorism. According to Laqueur in 1999, the one accepted characteristic of terrorism is that it centers on threat of violence or violence. However, some include the characteristic of political motivation or strengthen violence as a political tactic (Turk, et al, 2002). Therefore, terrorism could be defined as politically motivated violence used by sub national groups against noncombatant targets, with the purpose to influence an audience (Ruby, 2002).

Terrorism means the illegitimate or unlawful use of violence for the advancement of a group's interests. Examples are taking hostages, planting explosives in public places, taking hostages, or killing politicians. The objective of terrorism is basically ideological in nature (Lewis, 2002). Since the terminology terrorism pivots on the differentiation between the illegitimate and legitimate use of violence, the confusion emanates that insurgency, crime, rebellion and warfare could be the synonyms of terrorism. Although they might have similar goals, but terrorism has its dissimilarities with insurgency, crime, rebellion and warfare.

Terrorism and insurgency

Differences

The biggest difference between terrorism and the insurgency is that an insurgency is a political endeavor with a set goal, or in other words, it is a movement. Terrorism, on the other hand, is a method to obtain the aim of the political movement. Insurgency does not need the use of terror. Insurgency's main objective is to challenge the government in order to gain the territorial control or acquire a share in the political power. For this, insurgency needs the involvement of some part of the population to support it, such as internal countries' approval of politicians etc. Terrorism, on the other hand, does not need the population's support or sympathetic feeling (http://www.terrorism-research.com).

Terrorists do not prefer to be called as terrorists but prefer to be referred in political or military context such as soldiers or freedom fighters. On the contrary, insurgents call themselves as guerillas or insurgents. Another major difference is terrorist do not control terrain, which means that they do not have set locations. This makes them easily traceable by government forces, restricts their mobility and cause a threat to their security (http://www.terrorism-research.com). Terrorist do not try to confront the government forces directly, as they do ...