Background of Terrorism
Early 20th CenturyAfter World War II, nationalistic feelings were on the rise. With people all over the world inflamed with passion for their country, international order was on the decline. During the twentieth century, these nationalistic feelings intensified, becoming the focal point for resistance and open warfare. Nationalism gradually began to be associated with the ideas of race and ethnicity, and eventually these ideas began to be supported by political developments internationally. Members of ethnic groups, who’s states had been absorbed by others or were no longer separate nations, began to grow with nationalistic feelings for their homeland. Unfortunately, many groups used terror as their method in hopes of alerting their struggles to world powers. In order to publicize their cause, many groups initiated deadly uprisings to aid their previously existing terrorist campaigns for independence.
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These groups continually violated the law of war, following the practice of “total war” used during World War II. Starting in World War I, people began to be increasingly desensitized to violence. Accelerating during World War II, opposing ideologies sparked intense conflict between groups. Citizens were now exposed to the violence of war through new weaponry and strategies which targeted enemy populations, aiming to destroy their economic accommodation for conflict. Major powers began supporting these groups, legitimizing the use of terror tactics.
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Cold War TerrorismThe international perceptions of these conflicts completely changed during the Cold War. Running the risk of initiating a world-wide nuclear war, minor incidents and confrontations became increasingly more significant. To limit escalating violence, the conflict between East and West stayed primarily on border lines. Immediately after the war, terrorism was mainly used by nationalist rebellion groups as a tactical choice. With terrorism tactics becoming increasingly successful for gaining independence from colonial rule, many more groups began using terror in their campaigns. But terror tactics were never used alone. These strategies were used as an aid within a larger framework of intended action. Although nationalistic campaigns were dominated by terrorism, these tactics were always combined with other courses of action as well.
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The Soviet Union often aided international revolutionary movements, directly as well as indirectly, during the Cold War. Communism was somewhat intriguing to anti-colonial movements due to its extremist nature, which proved rewarding for these groups through free weapons, training, and improved international legitimacy. Unfortunately, in order to support their military and political goals, many of these groups or people used terrorism and violence. The Soviet Union provided these extremist groups with the means to utilize terror to achieve their goals through their policies to support international revolutionary struggles.
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Modern TerrorismArguably, the age of modern terror began in 1968 when an Israeli El Al Airliner going from Tel Aviv to Rome was hijacked by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, or PFLP. Although this was not the first time an airliner had been hijacked, it was the first time the symbolic value of the nationality of the airliner was the specific target. Also for the first time, passengers were deliberately used as hostages, making public demands against the government of Israel. This event gained an immense amount of media attention, much greater than previous battles they had with Israeli soldiers not involving terror.
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"At least the world is talking about us now."
-Dr. George Habash, founder of PFLP |
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Obviously, the greatest international act of terrorism was
the September 11 attacks. Centered in Pakistan and Afghanistan, Islamic
terrorist groups are also responsible for numerous of other current attacks.
Some examples include the attack of the Indian Parliament in New Delhi, the
London subway bombings, the Madrid train bombings, the Bali car bomb attack,
and attacks on hotels, a train station, and an outreach center in Mumbai.
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