European terrorist movements : case studies : I.R.A. & Chechnya

Abstract

The world has been faced with the building of empires which has led to indifferences being that colonies were 'used' by the Empires. The wars that have been fought on European soil have left their mark by changing borders through settlements resulting in a multitude of ethnic divisions. Moreover these colonial wars have led to severe global economic crises and political vacuums such as those that recur in third wodd countries. The result of 19th and 20th century colonial expansion has been that ethnic groups being internal displaced within their very own borders creating tension, violence, ethnic cleansing, war and terrorism. The 20th century power politics became entangled in the bipolarity of the Cold War between the two Superpowers divided Europe into two ideological power blocs which created common interests in zones dividing Europe into the West versus the East confrontation. The end of the Cold War has ushered the age of globalization connecting the states together, finally after years of division European states share a common interests of security and defence. Although we have moved into a new era of security and technology, terrorist activities have increased resulting in atrocities such as ethnic cleansing. Terrorist attacks in the past have been sporadic but have during the 20th century increased and taken a new tum being international in nature and affecting people psychologically. The attacks of September 11 have not just shaken the American people but the whole world has been faced with the notion that terrorism can strike anywhere, the latest victims of such an attack was on European soil in Spain on 11 March 2004. The Madrid train bombings have pushed Europeans to live in fear of the next attack. In Europe terrorism has become the basic strategy of "freedom fighters" striving of political and national independence, as in the case of terrorist groups in Ireland, Chechnya and Spain. In the Third World, however, terrorism has evolved into a military tactic by insurgent organisations, meaning that terrorist groups from part of a larger revolutionary movement, for the liberation of territory. The possible motivations for individuals to engage in terrorism are diverse. Motives range from psychological and ideological to political, social, and economic grievances. As has been the case throughout recorded history, the means and intent has been relative depending on the demands of the terrorist group and its demands. Today's terrorism is a multifaceted phenomenon consisting of diverse array of actors, motivations, and tactics that evolves our time. Such phenomenon requires equal ingenuity and flexibility on the part of those who study it or work in counter terrorism process, such as intelligence analysts, operations and policy makers. What is different today has been the evolution in the who, why and how of terrorism.