Bases for Motivation for Terrorism - Essay Example

Introduction The complications that are a part of terrorism are one of the most pressing issues of the time. Different agendas that come from extremist groups are creating a specific response from those that are facing terrorism, and are also providing counter – responses and actions that are working to stop terrorism. Beyond the main agendas of terrorism and the counter-actions, are also agendas and responses that are leading to new complications on a political, cultural and social level. The approaches that are being taken both by terrorists and those that are responding are leading to a re-evaluation of what is needed to alter the affiliations with these specific groups and the agendas that they are working to fulfill. The more that is understood and analyzed about the groups, as well as the counter – actions that are taken, the more likely that the correct responses can be taken to change the rebellion against political and social arenas. Terrorist Groups and Agendas The definition of terrorism is one that has grown in current years. The explosion of terrorism as a cultural affiliation began after the World Trade Centers in 2001, which caused destruction to the United States buildings and created a strong cultural and political response from America. The particular attacks led to the new terrorism, and have led to a rise in the amount of terrorist groups that are spotted around the world, especially since the 1980s. There are several definitions and identity concepts that are affiliated with this. Terrorists are known to consist of either a fanatical religious group or one that holds a political agenda. Fanaticism, rather than political interest, is usually at the base of motivation for terrorism. However, non – traditional terrorism, which consists of political agendas that are intertwined with religion, as well as the responses from groups, is prevalent. The rules for groups have led into more destruction and chaos that is created as well as the belief that self – destruction is honorable when being a part of war and terrorism (Morgan, 7, 2004). There are several types of terrorism that are a part of different focus groups around the world. Each has specific agendas and initiatives that are related to politics and society, as well as the need to achieve specific goals in relation to philosophies held by the groups. The new terrorism, which has developed as a part of the 20th century, has created a different understanding and analysis of terrorist groups and their agendas. The main focus of new terrorism is one that is not only linked to agendas and philosophies. It is believed that there is a psychological response from those that are affiliated with terrorism. The main agenda is to create a political response that is not only on an individual level. The individual associates with a specific group and society and links to the identity as well as the acceptance that is a part of the group. As terrorism grows into different groups, is also the understanding that this is a psychological response to relate from the individual to a group and to society as a whole (Crenshaw, 405, 2000). One of the most renowned groups that have grown with the new terrorism is the Islamist terrorist groups. The largest of these groups is formed by Al Qaeda. The group is known to carry several facets in different global regions and functions as a complete organization under the name of Islam. The first mention of the Islamist terrorism under the leadership of Al Qaeda was from the U.S. led assault that took place in Afghanistan in 2001. After this time, there was a spread of the organization into different regions of the earth, with several networks that function under the Islamist terrorist groups. The organizational behavior is known to associate as a dune organization, meaning that there is one main organization and several networks that function underneath this. However, there is a unified effort and set of goals that are related on fanaticism of Islamist beliefs. The Islamic beliefs move into attacks on politics, specifically with the agenda that those who are not practicing from a religious point of view will create problems throughout the globe (Mishal et al, 275, 2005). A second affiliation with terrorism comes from Nationalist groups that carry an alternative agenda. Two of the most popular nationalist groups are the ETA and IRA. The main focus of these groups was to create a diversion from the state by using militia and armed force. The diversion was meant to break the policies and procedures of the state and to change the philosophies and agenda of the government. The way that this organization began to function was through a set of strategies that timed out different killings of specific people. Typically, these were affiliated with the government and worked to threaten the government and the State until they began to change the agenda of the nationalist area. At the same time, this type of violence was able to keep the main affiliates of the ETA and IRA undercover so they could continue to fulfill their agenda of changing governmental policies. While the opposition of these groups is political in nature, many also associate the Nationalist groups with different religious concepts and hold affiliations with the philosophies that the groups honor (Cuenza, 289, 2007). A third type of terrorism that continues to move into prominence at a national and international level is leftist and ideological terrorism. The leftist terrorism groups became prominent throughout the 1980s and are associated with groups such as the Christian Identity Movement or Puerto Rican extremists. The main identity of these terrorist groups is based on fanaticism and special interest, specifically affiliated with culture, religion, identity and politics. Each of these is dependent on the focus and the philosophies of the group. For instance, many that are focused on politics will also be interested in the creation of anarchy and will use media, interventions in public spaces and sometimes violence to create a statement against the government. Others that create philosophies, such as the Christian Identity movement, will focus on a fanatical viewpoint of Christianity and the association with typologies that promote Christianity as the only way to be saved. Using the media, advocate events and sometimes moving into violence is used. These are known to define a revolution within the group and to promote the different ideologies by the group. As the group promotes these ideals, there is a common belief that the philosophies are the only correct way for society to live by (Smith, 17 – 32, 1994). Counter – terrorism Beyond Security Even though security is required against terrorism, such as through cops, interventions of militia and other necessary force, there are other actions that are being taken against terrorist groups and the ideologies that are being spread. While many of the terrorist groups use force and violence, there are other initiatives that are used to advocate a specific ideology. Since there are more ways to create an aversion in society, other responses by political initiatives and through culture can be used to prevent the terrorist groups from moving to far within society. Finding new policies, intervention programs and initiatives to stop terrorism at different levels are all being used to fight terrorism and to stop the revolutionary and fanatical ideas from becoming a hazard and threat to those in society. The first concept that has been used with counter – terrorism is a political agenda that is focused specifically on intervening with terrorism on several levels. The rise of this began after the tragedy of September 11, 2001 and the terrorist attacks of the World Trade Center. The result was the development of a counter - terrorism committee in the United States. The fight against terrorism from this committee has led into what is now known as the “Fight Against Terrorism.” The first policy that was established in relation to this was the Security Council Resolution 1373. This has not only been developed by this committee but is also used in the United Nations as an overall effort to enhance international peace and security. The efforts that have arisen from this development have caused each of the nations to form together and to bind the states to the policies of the UN. The obligations are based on an initiation of further security and development among nations. If one of the nations finds an act of terrorism that may arise on a national or international level, then they are subject to take specific security measures and to prevent the rise of terrorism. The policy and resolution for security that has been established is one of the foundational aspects that has been taken for counter – terrorism and the threats that are a part of this (Rosand, 333, 2003). The enforcement of this initial policy with the UN has led to different national approaches and measures taken politically and through the culture of various regions. The strategy that has developed is one that has examined different spaces where terrorism and threats may arise. Policies and procedures have been added into these spaces, specifically which focus on information, enhancement of security and new internal security that is developed on various levels of a nation. The main ideal is to create national and regional measures through policies that are implemented through the government. The main goal that has been set with this is to have peacekeeping in different arenas. The police forces and the militia become secondary with these policies and are used to reinforce means of policies and procedures that are used for protection and security. The counter – terrorism that is used is designated to create levels of information that stop terrorism before it starts and which provides a different understanding of what to expect from terrorist groups and the actions that are taken (Schneier, 3, 2003). Actions and Responses to Terrorism There are two main responses that are occurring from the policies, procedures and political intervention that is leading to new security measures, known as proactive and defensive actions that are related to the attacks. Proactive practices include strikes, policies and procedures that are deliberately against terrorist in different nations. The terrorist groups are formed because specific groups of people agree on policies and reform. However, the belief that this is related to a psychological response of being accepted into a group has led to counter movements in the culture against this mentality. It is suspected that the proactive practices, such as strikes, will develop a different ideology that moves against the terrorist attacks and the acceptance of the groups in the nation. The defensive actions are known as softer targets and are done through finding terrorists, freezing their assets and negotiating with them so they stop the violent acts and behaviors. When the negotiation pledge is taken, terrorists do not have the ability to practice their acts and are forced to step down with their different beliefs. If this is not done, then harsher approaches are taken with the behaviors, which often leads to security, defense systems and militia response toward the terrorist groups (Sandler, 76, 2005). The particular responses that are used from the government and terrorists between nations have also led into actions and responses that relate to the management of intergovernmental responses that are a part of terrorism. In circumstances where the terrorists are globally recognized, there is the need to have different responses to the events, specifically by the unification of policies and by the peacekeeping that is recognized by the UN. The main theory that is used to counteract terrorists at this level is known as a set of complex adaptive systems. The particular concept with this is to notate the level of risk and threat that is currently a part of the terrorism act. The individual, organizational and collective whole can then respond, dependent on the risk that is used with the relationship to terrorists. Governments are able to combine levels of information and communication, as well as feedback and exchange of information to combat against terrorism at different phases. Using an infrastructure between governments that allows for adaptation is then able to enhance the levels of security as well as the responses through both proactive and defensive options with terrorism (Comfort, 29, 2002). While there are several measures that are being taken for negotiations and peaceful measures to eliminate terrorism, others are moving toward forceful responses in terrorism. The forceful attacks that are a part of terrorism were first based on several strikes in Afghanistan and Sudan that didn’t have the proper policies in place and which turned into violent measures against and for the strikes. This led to an alteration in how terrorism was approached, specifically by the UN placing in different concepts toward terrorism and the force that was used within each of the regions of the world. Aggression and armed attacks have to first be approved by the government and can’t take place unless other means aren’t able to coincide with stopping terrorism. If negotiations and other defensive measures fail, then force and armed attacks may be approved. However, the violence should be furthered by trying to stop the terrorists and capturing them to move into a legal structure. The terrorists identified are required to stand before criminal courts or international criminal tribunals, dependent on the level of terrorism used and the policies that are associated with a specific region. Each of these is able to create a specific response by terrorists and provides an alternative measurement to stop terrorism without using violent attacks (Scheidman, 250, 2000). Counter Potential for Radicalization of Terrorism The several strategies that are currently being implemented and national and international levels lead to other complications that may further the political agendas of different territories. The use of peaceful means, legal concepts and the different obligations with finding terrorists are leading to other provisions with terrorism. In some instances, this may lead to a radicalization of terrorism because of the initiation to focus on peacekeeping. However, there may be other responses that will lead to counter movements against the initiatives and policies that are related to terrorism. Understanding the dangers as well as the benefits of the laws and policies that have been created to stop terrorism will define the effectiveness created through different nations as well as through the UN. The benefits that many are finding with the counter movements and terrorism is that it is leading to direct responses against terrorist groups and is allowing for new policies to be made with terrorists. Instead of terrorism being a counter movement that is ignored, the policies and procedures that have been implemented are allowing countries to respond at a different level. The obligation to stop terrorists and to move them into legal proceedings is allowing many nations to be pro – active in the response against terrorists. However, moving terrorists into a prison is also leading to further networks that are growing terrorism at an international level. Other terrorists are using the Internet and networking through technology to counteract against the methods and policies that are trying to stop terrorism. Many believe that the prevention and responses that are being used against terrorism are only benefitting by creating activity with terrorists. However, the policies and the obligations to keep peaceful measures are also helping those in the different groups to grow their network and to understand how to respond to the measures being taken by the government (Cillufo, et al, 113, 2007). Not only is there the ability for networks to grow through the peaceful measures taken, but the concept of group activity is continuing to grow as terrorists are recognized more in different communities. One of the counter - movements against terrorism was to provide knowledge and communication between different territories, all which are based on the identity and agenda of the groups that are a part of terrorism. However, there are many others that are in different countries which hold this same identity. For instance, the Islamist terrorist group is one that has an identity in almost country with practicing Muslims that identify with this religion. As terrorism continues to grow and as the different pieces of information are established, more individuals are tied into the concept of terrorism as a part of the Islam faith. There are two problems that are associated with the identification and communication that is being used. The first is related to those that aren’t a part of the terrorist groups but are now being screened for their identification. The second is that those who have a group identity associated with this are being drawn into the network and belief systems that are a part of the terrorist groups. The radicalization that is occurring from group identity is creating further problems as those that are a part of the groups are continuing to develop a higher network of individuals who are willing to work with terrorist groups (Post, Sheffer, 101, 2006). The new component that is a part of the counter movements against terrorism has noted that the networks and the advertising has led into a radicalization of groups and identity for those interested in the belief systems of the time. To try to change this, many are finding counter strategies to stop the growth of terrorism and the radicalization that is occurring because of the identity that many are beginning to associate with in terms of terrorism. Different measures are being used, such as different keywords and associations with identity and terrorism. Social psychologists are furthering the development of identity and understanding of terrorism by finding those that associate and identify with the groups. Different profiles and behaviors are now being noticed by those that may associate with terrorist groups. Trying to find the motivations, group identities and norms that are a part of each of the groups are creating a further association with terrorism and the expectations. The more that terrorism becomes radical, the more politicians, theorists and others in the community have to respond. Placing new identities, components of terrorism and new policies have all continued to be a central focus to stop the emergence and radicalization of terrorism. Conclusion The concepts of terrorism have continued to grow since September 11, 2001, specifically with the understanding of new terrorism. Various groups and agendas have been established, all which are based on fanaticism of religion, political agendas or group identity. The groups of terrorism that have grown have now spread into a different understanding of what terrorism means and the threat that is poses as a national and international component. To counter – act this, political and social movements have been created to stop the group identity and the leading terrorist groups. However, the response is one that is creating a radicalization of terrorism, specifically based on group identity and the association with fanaticism that has been created. The conflict and tension that is now arising as a response to terrorism is one that is based on the policies and procedures that are creating a backlash as a part of the terrorist movement. References Cillufo, Frank, Sharon Cardash, Andrew Whitehead. (2007). Radicalization: Behind Bars and Beyond Borders. Brown Journal of World Affairs (13), (2). Comfort, Louise. (2002). Managing Intergovernmental Responses to Terrorism and Other Extreme Events. The Journal of Federalism (32), (4). Crenshaw, Martha. 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