TerrorismViolence as means of desire

Terrorism is the tactic of demanding the impossible, and demanding it at gunpoint.

- CHRISTOPHER HITCHENS, "Terrorism: Notes Toward a Definition"

Terrorism has become the systematic weapon of a war that knows no borders or seldom has a face.

- JACQUES CHIRAC, speech, Sep. 24, 1986

Terrorism is the best political weapon for nothing drives people harder than a fear of sudden death.

- Adolf Hitler

What is terrorism?

Originated from the word terrier (Latin), which means to frighten

United Nations:

- Any act intended to cause death or seriously bodily harm to civilians or non-combatants with the purpose of intimidating a population or an international organization to do or abstain from any act.

David Rodin: Terrorism is the deliberate, negligent, or reckless use of force against non-combatants, by state or non-state actors for ideological cuds and in the absence of a substantively just legal process

Criteria for terrorismViolence

"the only general characteristic of terrorism generally agreed upon is that terrorism involves violence and the threat of violence".

Psychological impact and fear

Terrorists do not simply just do violence and expect media coverage. They target embassies, or national symbols to cause great fear in the population.

Perpetrated for a political goal

Usually when political activists have no other means of expressing their views, it is through terrorism that they convey their message. When religion meets terrorism, the terrorists usually justify their act as a small matter compared to what they are really fighting for.

Deliberate targeting of non-combatants

Because instilling fear is the main reason for terrorist acts, they tend to target weaker members of the community to emphasize their criminal intent.

Why terrorism?

Social and political injustice: People choose terrorism when they are trying to right what they perceive to be a social or political or historical wrong—when they have been stripped of their land or rights, or denied these.

Poverty and economic disadvantage: When a group is absolutely or relatively deprived they rebel or that they are more susceptible to recruitment by organizations using terrorist tactics. "nations or regions that are experiencing rapid growth appear to have lower incidences of terrorism."

Spread of ideology: The Al Qaida movement, for example, has the tendency to speak on behalf of all Muslims to garner support. The violence used is motivated by their aspiration to separate the Muslim world from any foreign entity.

Anger and frustration: Many terrorist groups would claim that all the peaceful means of getting what they want has been exhausted or they are simply unheard. Unsatisfied by the result, they resort to violence to attract significant attention to their problems.