- Organizational approach to defining terrorism
- The terrorism can be viewed as one of the global happening, which is easily recognized, however to some extent difficult to define. Various communities worldwide describe terrorism as mainly encompassing the socials-economic or the political condition in a country. In the situation where there exist social economic problems terrorism is perceived to be manly between the have and have not. On the other hand, in the situation where there exist political problems the terrorism is normally perceived to be conflict in order to gain political power. One of the possible sources of the concept of terrorism can be dated back during the French revolution of in 1798. During this revolution the term was used to describe the conduct of the various revolutionists. There various organization that have tried to define terrorism, these include the UN and the European Union.
- The UN definition of terrorism
- According to the UN definition terrorism is the act or the intention to attempt to cause injury to any person or serious damage to a state. In addition the terrorism also involves any attempt by an individual to cause any harm to government facility, interrupt any public means of transport system, communication system (White, 2012). Moreover, terrorism may also involve any attempt by an individual to intimidate a certain population of a country or compel the government or an organization to act.
- The European Union definition of terrorism
- From the European Union definition of terrorism is majorly composed of two parts. First, the terrorism is any element that involves intimidation of a population or forcing an organization to act or perform a certain act (Wade & Maljević, 2009). In addition, terrorism involves any act of seriously destroying the fundamental structure of a country or an organization. It is also evident that according to European Union definition of the terrorism in order for an act to be considered terrorism it must fulfill three conditions. First, it must be an act that is already incriminated under the national laws of a country. Second that act must seriously damage a country or an international organization. Finally the act must also be intimidating a certain section of the population.
- The best concept
- Careful analysis of the two definitions it is evident that the best concept of terrorism is the concept presented in the UN definition. This is because in the UN definition an act can is considered terrorism if it contravenes any of the condition specified in the definition. On the other hand, the European Union definition of terrorism it is evident that an act must fulfill several conditions in order to qualify to be terrorism.
- However, it is also evident that the two definitions do not include the explanation in detail of the terrorist conduct. This is because the terrorist conduct involves first setting aside the situation of organized crime, which aims at accomplishing a certain objective. This implies that in most cases the terrorist organize their crime in order to achieve a certain objective in the end. Another unique feature of terrorism is the fact that it is normally carried out by few people with the intention of accomplishing certain goal. In addition, another unique feature of the terrorism is the fact that the people who carry out these terrorist activities in most cases are usually motivated to accomplish their mission. This implies that such people may go to an extent of even losing their life in order to achieve their goals. One of the possible sources of motivation is majorly thought to be the urge for a revenge attack. This urge to revenge is in turn believed to be something that is in born in an individual. Another possible motivation that drives the terrorist may also be the insurgence and the regional retribution. In such cases the terrorist are motivated to carry out their activities mainly because their territory has been occupied. Moreover, various studies have also linked the ideology of terrorism with the Islam. This is mainly because most of the international terrorists are also connected in way with the radical Muslim. In addition it is also evident that most of the radical Muslims are also connected to the terrorist activities. This is mainly in the form that has come to be known as jihad.
- References
- Wade, M., & Maljević, A. (2009). A war on terror?: The European stance on a new threat, changing laws and human rights implications. New York: Springer.
- White, J. R. (2012). Terrorism and homeland security. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
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