Introduction
Terrorism, at its core, is about demonstrating the strength of the radical groups and their resolve to impose high costs on the current regime to achieve their objectives. Their main purpose can range from changing the direction of the politics in the state to overthrowing the exciting government and establishing control over the population (Holbrook & Horgan, 2019). This distinction differentiates extremists and terrorists. Moreover, the terrorists’ views, contrary to popular belief, may not hold extreme political opinions, and extremists may not be violent, as they just fall into a radical ideological spectrum (Holbrook & Horgan, 2019). Extremists may be able to express their position, but the terrorists are deprived of this opportunity as they commit acts to fulfill that gap. At this point, one becomes a terrorist, the recruits are often poor people with a lack of economic or political prospects (Holbrook & Horgan, 2019). This pattern shows the foundational nature of terrorism ideas. Even though the main foundational ideas of terrorism stayed the same, its outreach and methods developed over time.
To achieve such effects and objectives, terrorists use intimidation tactics, including but not limited to attrition, provocation, outbidding, and spoiling peace negotiations. For example, this attrition is used by terrorists to wear down the government’s resolve and resources so that it would agree to the terrorists’ conditions or relinquish control (McEntire, 2019). Moreover, the severity of the state’s response and consequential damage can even help terrorists recruit more members usually from the group already targeted by terrorists (Gaibulloev & Sandler 2019). The overall purpose of these strategies is to impose the costs on society, expand the resources, and the state to get their attention and coerce them to do their bidding.
Change in Terrorism over the Years and Current Conditions of Terrorism
The most obvious change in terrorism is in the methods of realizing the goals of these organizations. Over the years, the most common forms of modern terrorism are shootings, suicide attacks, hijackings, kidnappings, and bombings: from the Irish bombings to 9/11 (Ravndal & Bjørgo, 2018). However, in recent years, cyberterrorism, bioterrorism, agroterrorism, and nuclear terrorism have appeared, targeting a specific societal welfare and security category. According to (Gaibulloev & Sandler 2019), globalization and ease of resources and human transportation in the modern age allowed for the decrease in the complexity of international terrorism and its growth. Now terrorists not only can smuggle destructive weapons across the borders but recruit new members from other countries and even receive overseas financial support.
Modern technology makes it easy and cost-effective even to forgo traveling to other countries or regions to commit terroristic acts, risking the wellbeing of their recruits, and launch a cyber attack from their home country or domestic base. The target of such attacks is usually the governmental databases or important private corporations with access to a large pool of information or which disturbed function can disrupt society.
Another change is in the number, lethality, and geography of the attacks since 9/11. According to Gaibulloev and Sandler (2019), the number of attacks decreased due to the countries’ heightened security efforts. However, because of the increased difficulty of committing the acts, consequent risks, and modern technology, they became more elaborate, planned, and thus more lethal. Moreover, “transnational and domestic terrorists shifted their venues from Europe, Central Asia, and Latin America to the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia” (Gaibulloev and Sandler, 2019). The reason is that these countries invested in the increased security combat against terrorism since 9/11.
Conclusion
After 9/11, the interest in terrorism piqued, as it became one of the most discussed and researched political science topics. While citizens grappled with the event’s personal, emotional, and economic consequences, terrorism presented a security issue for governments that needed to be addressed with sweeping changes. Meanwhile, scientists closely investigated and monitored its changing directions in the new globalized world. They concluded that terrorism changed, adopting the extensive use of technology and the ease of worldwide transportation.
References
Gaibulloev, K., & Sandler, T. (2019). What we have learned about terrorism since 9/11. Journal of Economic Literature, 57(2), 275-328. Web.
Holbrook, D., & Horgan, J. (2019). Terrorism and ideology. Perspectives on terrorism, 13(6), 2-15. Web.
McEntire, D. A. (2019). Introduction to homeland security: Understanding terrorism prevention and emergency management (2nd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Ravndal, J. A., & Bjørgo, T. (2018). Investigating terrorism from the extreme right: A review of past and present research. Perspectives on Terrorism, 12(6), 5-22. Web.