Type of terrorist

Types of Terrorism

Terrorist typologies are descriptive classifications explaining the quality of political violence arising from distinct political and social environments. Although many terrorist typologies are accepted without controversy by analysts, some are the subject of definitional debate. Accepted typologies include the following: The New Terrorism, state terrorism, dissident terrorism, religious terrorism, ideological terrorism, and international terrorism. Sub-classifications of accepted typologies include nationalist terrorism, ethno-national terrorism, and racial terrorism. In contradistinction to accepted typologies, other classifications are conceptually “cutting-edge” and the subject of definitional debate. These include gender-selective terrorism and criminal terrorism (often referred to as narco-terrorism). Nevertheless, there is growing recognition that gender-selective and criminal terrorism are features of the modern global terrorist environment. We will identify and discuss terrorist typologies in the modern era, including the emerging recognition of newly defined typologies.

Security experts and scholars in the modern era have defined and described terrorism within the context of systematic typological classifications (e.g., Barkan & Snowden; Eherenfeld, 1990; Hoffman, 2006; Lacqueur, 1999; Marsden & Schmid, 2011; Purpura, 2007; Rubenstein, 1974; Tucker, 2000; White, 2009; Zafirovski & Rodeheaver, 2013). Typological classifications or typologies have been used across disciplines as a means of organizations apparently related phenomena (Marsden & Schmid, 2011). The identification of patterns and organization of things and ideas is beneficial in many regards, a primary utility of typology “is the greater conceptual clarity they allow” (Marsden & Schmid 2011, pp: 159). Thus, despite the definitional debate that exists surrounding the lines of categorization, we explore eight terrorist typologies:

The New Terrorism: The modern terrorist environment that arose during the end of the 20th century, culminating in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City. The New Terrorism is characterized by the threat of mass casualty attacks from dissident terrorist organizations, new and creative organizational configurations, transnational religious solidarity, and redefined moral justifications for political violence.

State Terrorism: Terrorism “committed by governments against perceived enemies. State terrorism can be directed externally against adversaries in the international domain or internally against domestic enemies” (Martin, 2016: 31).

Dissident Terrorism: Terrorism “committed by nonstate movements and groups against governments, ethno-national groups, religious groups, and other perceived enemies” (Martin, 2016: 31).

Religious Terrorism: “Terrorism motivated by an absolute belief that an otherworldly power has sanctioned—and commanded—the application of terrorist violence for the greater glory of the faith. Religious terrorism is usually conducted in defense of what believers consider to be the one true faith” (Martin, 2016: 32).

Ideological Terrorism: Terrorism motivated by political systems of belief (ideologies), which champion the self-perceived inherent rights of a particular group or interest in opposition to another group or interest. The system of belief incorporates theoretical and philosophical justifications for violently asserting the rights of the championed group or interest.

International Terrorism: “Terrorism that spills over onto the world’s stage. Targets are selected because of their value as symbols of international interests, either within the home country or across state boundaries” (Martin, 2016: 32).

Criminal Dissident Terrorism: This type of terrorism is solely profit-driven, and can be some combination of profit and politics. For instance, traditional organized criminals accrue profits to fund their criminal activity and for personal interests, while criminal-political enterprises acquire profits to sustain their movement (Martin, 2016: 32).

Gender-Selective Terrorism: Terrorism directed against an enemy population’s men or women because of their gender. Systematic violence is directed against men because of the perceived threat posed by males as potential soldiers or sources of opposition. Systematic violence is directed against women to destroy an enemy group’s cultural identity or terrorize the group into submission.

 

Terrorism can be divided into two major types:

1. Regional Terrorism:

Regional terrorism can be further divided into sub types such as political terrorism, Non Political terrorism, and civil disorder. Terrorism on the basis of culture language or race can also be considered under this type of terrorism.

Political terrorism- Violent criminal behavior designed primarily to generate fear in the community, or substantial segment of it, for political purposes.

Non-Political terrorism- Terrorism that is not aimed at political purposes but which exhibits "conscious design to create and maintain a high degree of fear for coercive purposes, but the end is individual or collective gain rather than the achievement of a political objective".

Quasi-terrorism- The activities incidental to the commission of crimes of violence that are similar in form and method to genuine terrorism but which nevertheless lack its essential ingredient. It is not the main purpose of the quasi-terrorists to induce terror in the immediate victim as in the case of genuine terrorism, but the quasi-terrorist uses the modalities and techniques of the genuine terrorist and produces similar consequences and reaction. For example, the fleeing felon who takes hostages is a quasi-terrorist, whose methods are similar to those of the genuine terrorist but whose purposes are quite different.

Limited political terrorism- Genuine political terrorism is characterized by a revolutionary approach; limited political terrorism refers to "acts of terrorism which are committed for ideological or political motives but which are not part of a concerted campaign to capture control of the state".

Official or state terrorism- "referring to nations whose rule is based upon fear and oppression that reach similar to terrorism or such proportions". It may also be referred to as Structural Terrorism defined broadly as terrorist acts carried out by governments in pursuit of political objectives, often as part of their foreign policy.

 

2. Religious terrorism:

Terrorist acts throughout history have been performed on religious grounds with the goal to either spread or enforce a system of belief, viewpoint or opinion. The validity and scope of religious terrorism is limited to an individual's view or a group's view or interpretation of that belief system's teachings.

According to the Global Terrorism Index by the University of Maryland, College Park, religious extremism has overtaken national separatism and become the main driver of terrorist attacks around the world. Since 9/11 there has been a five-fold increase in deaths from terrorist attacks. The majority of incidents over the past several years can be tied to groups with a religious agenda. Before 2000, it was nationalist separatist terrorist organizations such as the IRA and Chechen rebels who were behind the most attacks. The number of incidents from nationalist separatist groups has remained relatively stable in the years since while religious extremism has grown. The prevalence of Islamist groups in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria and Syria is the main driver behind these trends.

Four of the terrorist groups that have been most active since 2001 are Boko Haram, Al Qaeda, the Taliban and ISIS. These groups have been most active in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria and Syria and Iraq. 80% of all deaths from terrorism occurred in one of these five countries.

 

Forms of Terrorism:

As well as there being no

            i.      Bio Terrorism

Bioterrorism is terrorism involving the intentional release or dissemination of biological agents to cause harm to other people. These agents are bacteria, viruses, or toxins. 

Contamination of water, food, air and packages to create infection.

 

 

 

           ii.    Cyber Terrorism

Terrorists use Information Technology, Telecommunication and Computer System to attack civilians. The internet worms and viruses that are designed to take down some of the systems that the government uses.

 

         iii.     Eco Terrorism

Ecosystem terrorism is a recently coined term describing violence in the interests of environmentalism.

 

          iv. Nuclear Terrorism

Nuclear terrorism refers to a number of different ways nuclear materials might be exploited as a terrorist tactic such as the use of radioactive materials through explosion.

  

           v.    Narco Terrorism

In narcoterrorism involves making, transporting and selling illegal drugs to fund terrorist activities. Narcoterrorism has denoted violence used by drug traffickers to influence governments or *prevent government efforts to stop the drug trade.

 

Characteristics of Terrorism:

•        It is exercised by organized groups

•        It is inspired by Political Motive

•        Use of Violence is intended to arouse fright or alarm

•        There is a systematic and indiscriminate use of violence and breach of Law  

 

How Terrorists Operate:

•        Assaults and Murders

•        Kidnapping and Skyjackings

•        Arson and Bombing

•        Using Weapons of Mass Destruction

 

Difference between Terrorist and Organized Crime Groups:

Terrorists	Organized Crime
Ideologically or politically motivated	Profit Oriented
Seek media attention	Do not seek media attention
Victimization is generally less discriminate	Victimization is generally less discriminate

Wish to compete with governments for legitimacy             Do not do this                        

 

 

Motivations of Terrorism:

As well as there being no one agreed definition of terrorism, there is a similar lack of consensus regarding the causes- or motivations behind terrorism. Numerous studies have identified certain behavioral and situational characteristics that are common, and perhaps causal, to the consequence of terrorism, specific analysis of case studies have led to suggested motivations to individual historical acts.

A report conducted by Paul Gill, John Horgan and Paige Deckert on behalf of The Department of security of UK highlights the vast discrepancies between individual cases of terrorism recorded. To begin with, 43% of lone wolf terrorism is motivated by religious beliefs. The same report indicates that just less than a third (31.9%) has pre-existing mental health disorders, while many more are found to have these problems upon arrest. At least 37% lived alone at the time of their event planning and/or execution, a further 26.1% lived with others, and no data were available for the remaining cases. 40.2% were unemployed at the time of their arrest or terrorist event. 19.3% subjectively experienced being disrespected by others, while 14.3% experienced being the victim of verbal or physical assault. i. Intimidation

Attacks on 'collaborators' are used to intimidate people from cooperating with the state in order to undermine state control. This strategy was used in Ireland, in Kenya, in Algeria and in Cyprus during their independence struggles.

 

           ii.          International Attention

This strategy was used by Al-Qaeda in its attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in the United States on September 11, 2001. These attacks are also used to draw international attention to struggles that are otherwise unreported, such as the Palestinian airplane hijackings in 1970 and the 1975 Dutch train hostage crisis.

 

         iii.        Local/internal social standing

Abraham suggests that terrorist organizations do not select terrorism for its political effectiveness. Individual terrorists tend to be motivated more by a desire for social solidarity with other members of their organization than by political platforms or strategic objectives, which are often murky and undefined.

 

          iv. Cultural tolerance of violence

Additionally, Michael Mousseau shows possible relationships between the type of economy within a country and ideology associated with terrorism. Many terrorists have a history of domestic violence.

 

           v.               Perceived illegitimacy of the State

Some terrorists like Timothy McVeigh were motivated by revenge against a state for its actions against its citizens.

 

          vi.                Religious beliefs/zealotry

According to Paul Gill, John Horgan and Paige Deckert on behalf of The Department of security of UK, 43% of lone wolf terrorism is motivated by religious beliefs. The same report indicates that Just less than a third (31.9%) have pre-existing mental health disorders, while many are found to have these problems upon arrest. At least 37% lived alone at the time of their event planning and/or execution, a further 26.1% lived with others, and no data were available for the remaining cases. 40.2% were unemployed at the time of their arrest or terrorist event. Many were chronically unemployed and consistently struggled to hold any form of employment for a significant amount of time. 19.3% subjectively experienced being disrespected by others, while 14.3% experienced being the victim of verbal or physical assault.

 

        vii.     Mental Health

Ariel Merari, a psychologist who has studied the psychological profiles of suicide terrorists since 1983 through media reports that contained biographical details, interviews with the suicides' families and interviews with jailed would-be suicide attackers, concluded that they were unlikely to be psychologically abnormal.

In comparison to economic theories of criminal behaviour, Scott Atran found that suicide terrorists exhibit none of the socially dysfunctional attributes - such as fatherless, friendless, jobless situations or suicidal symptoms. By which he means, they do not kill themselves simply out of hopelessness or a sense of 'having nothing to lose'.

 

       viii.     Nationalism

Although a common factor in terrorism is a strong religious belief there are other factors such as cultural, social and political those wholly preclude religion. For example, the drive behind these Chechen terrorists is quite distinct and unique from others. Many of the Chechens considered themselves secular freedom fighters, nationalist insurgents seeking to establish an independent secular state of Chechnya. Although a distinction should be made between national Chechen terrorists and non-Chechen fighters who have adopted the idea from abroad. Few Chechen fighters fought for the jihads whereas most of the non-Chechen fighters did (Janeczko, 2014).

 

          ix.   Financial support for family

Another factor is perceived assurances of financial stability for the actor's families that they are given when they join a terrorist organization or complete an attempt of terror. An extra grant is provided for the families of suicide bombers.