HISTORY OF TERRORISM


Threats or acts of terrorism actions have been in existence for millennia. Even though it has a history longer than the current nation-state, the implementation of terror by those that contest their power and governments remain poorly understood. The word terror is clear, but when applied to actors and acts in the real world it gets complicated. It is partly due to usage of violent strategies by actors at al levels of political and social environment. The paper looks at terrorism through the different periods of its history and relevance during that time.

A first-century Jewish group the Sicarii killed collaborators and enemies in their campaign to oust their Judea Roman rulers. During the 11 and 13th century, Hashashin a secretive Islamic sect in Syria and Iran dramatically assassinated political figures. However, assassins and zealots were not, in the modern sense terrorists.

In 1793, Maximilien Robespierre reign of terror created the word ‘terrorism’, after the French revolution. Robespierre instated a dictatorship and had the revolution enemies killed to stabilize the country. His ideas laid the basis for modern terrorism, which advocates that violence, bring a better system.

Non-state actors during half of the 20th century gave rise of guerilla tactics due to several factors. These included flowering of ideas like communism, ethnic nationalism, and anti-colonial sentiments. Globally terrorist groups with a nationalist objective have formed in all parts of the world. For example, the 1970s Kurdistan Workers Party (PPK) that implements terror tactics to promote its purpose of a Kurdish state among others. However, it is during the late 1960s that terrorism became prominent globally, with hijacking becoming a preferred tactic. The period also reaffirmed the current feeling towards terrorism as overly dramatized, symbolic trends of violence by organized groups with certain political complaints.

Currently, religious motivated terrorism is the most rampant terrorist threat. Group like the Al Qaeda verify violence on Islamic principles. Other religions like Christianity among others have given rise to their forms of extremism. It far removes terrorists from any actual religious beliefs.

In conclusion, the very adaptability and flexibility of terror over the years contributes to the confusion that people have about terrorism. Those aiming to reorder, disturb or destroy the status quo have continuously sought ingenious and new ways to attain their objective. However, history repeatedly shows terrorism only benefits extremist manipulating religion principles for own agendas.

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