Terrorism is one of the main challenges that the globe faces today (Fink, Barakat & Shetret, 2013). Previously, terrorism was confined to unstable regions such as the Middle East. However, the impacts of terrorism are now being felt in regions like the United States. Recently, there have been a series of attacks that terrorist groups such as the Islamic State have claimed responsibility for. For example, a man killed dozens of revelers at a gay club in Orlando, Florida (Ellis et al., 2015). This attack came after numerous others that had left dozens of Americans dead and many more wounded. The emergence of terrorism in the West has been attributed to new tactics that terror groups have adopted. Today, these groups are using ‘lone wolves’ to carry out attacks on targets in the Western world. These attackers who usually work alone are said to be more difficult to identify and this poses additional challenges to the law enforcement agencies that are tasked with the mandate of safeguarding homeland security. In this paper, the question of terrorism is explored. The paper begins with a discussion on the gender roles in terrorism before embarking on a look at the tactics that are used to carry out acts of terrorism. The paper ends with an examination of the forces that multiply the gravity and scale of terrorism.
Gender roles
Traditionally, terrorist acts have been committed by men. This may be attributed to the fact that men possess the muscle and emotional stamina to carry out the attacks. However, this has changed over the last few years as women play a more prominent role in terrorism. The Chechen conflict that pitted Chechnya against Russia offers numerous examples of women who were involved in terrorism. In this conflict, there were reports that women were carrying out such terrorist acts as bombing (Stack, 2011). It was argued that these women had been widowed and their involvement in terrorism was an expression of their anger and their pursuit of revenge. There was another group of women who did not make the deliberate decision to participate in terrorist acts against Russian. These Chechen women are said to have been drugged and duped into carrying out attacks (Stack, 2011). In addition to being active participants in terrorism, the Chechen women were also used for propaganda purposes. While it is true that women played a more active role in the Chechen conflict, it must not be forgotten that the conflict was largely fueled by men. It is men who dictated the narrative and issued instructions to the women (Stack, 2011). Therefore, it can be argued that women in the Chechen conflicts were mere puppets being controlled by men. This argument illustrates the fact that terrorism is still largely dominated by men.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Recent terrorist attacks offer evidence of the more active role that women are playing in terrorism. Islamic State is perhaps the greatest threat to global security today. This group has risen thanks in part to the support and participation that it gains from women. In the last few years, young girls from European countries have been moving to Syria to join the Islamic State (Witt, 2015). Some of these women become married to the Islamic State militants while others engage in active combat. Regardless of the role that they play, these women have provided the Islamic State with energy and commitment to keep unleashing terrorism. It is also feared that these women could return to Europe and carry out attacks. The case of these women points to the fact that women seem to be bolder and more daring as they are carrying out terrorist attacks alongside men.
From the discussion above, it is clear that women have played roles that are other supportive. Some change is being witnessed are regards the nature of participation of women in terrorism. Today, women are becoming more active in terrorism. They are mostly used as suicide bombers. In most societies, women are regarded as weak and harmless. Boko Haram is one of the terrorist groups that is known to use female bombers. This group sends young girls and women to such crowded places as markets in Nigeria to wreak devastation (Agara, 2015) It appears that terrorist networks are exploiting this cultural notion. Since they are less likely to draw attention to themselves, women and young girls are now preferred as ferries for bombs. Apart from serving as suicide bombers, women are also rising to positions of leadership in terrorist groups (Agara, 2015). The Middle East is the hotbed of terrorism and extremist violence. This region is a largely patriarchal society and it would be almost unimaginable that a woman would lead a terror cell. Female leadership of terrorist groups has been witnessed mostly in the Western world where women enjoy greater freedoms and are more vocal. For instance, the Red Brigade in Italy and the Baader-Meinhof gang in Germany are reported to have been led in some ways by women (Agara, 2015).
The discussion on the gender roles in terrorism would not be complete without a mention of the role that women are playing in peace-building and counter-terrorism efforts. Women have been recognized as the most promising weapon against terrorism (Fink, Barakat & Shetret, 2013). Since they bear the brunt of terrorism, women are more likely to support counter-terrorism efforts. It is women who lose their sons and husbands to terrorism. This is not to say that men do not suffer as a result of terrorism. Men are the direct victims of terrorism as they lose limbs and their lives. The discussion so far simply makes it clear that while terrorism is largely perpetrated by men, women are beginning to become more visible and active.
Tactics
There is a wide range of tactics that terrorist groups use to carry out attacks and to advance their agenda. In the following discussion, some of these tactics are explored.
Assassination
Assassination is one of the preferred methods used by terrorist groups (NCTC, n.d). When a terrorist group fears that a certain individual compromises its agenda, it is likely to assassinate the individual. In addition to ridding itself of the bother and threat that the individual poses, the assassination also allows terror groups to convey a clear message to its enemies: that anyone who dares to rise up against the terror group risks a similar fate. The Irish Republican Army (IRA) is one of the groups that were once branded as terrorist (Richards, 2015). Assassination is one of the techniques that this group used to further its agenda. The group is blamed for the assassination of Ian Crow. Crow desired to keep Ireland as part of the wider United Kingdom. It is believed that his stance on the union of Ireland with other members of the United Kingdom was responsible for his targeting by the IRA (Richards, 2015). Other than silencing an individual who opposed their methods and objectives, the assassination of Crow also allowed the IRA to cause panic and fear within the British public. The case of the IRA highlights the effectiveness of assassination in winning support and stoking public fear.
Kidnapping
Apart from assassination, kidnapping is another tactic that terrorist networks have been known to use. This method is usually intended to secure concessions from enemies. Say a terrorist network would like to see a withdrawal of troops from the country in which it operates. The group could kidnap the citizens of the country that has deployed its troops. This technique is usually effective. The Philippines is one of the countries that had sent its troops to Iraq. An extremist group operating in Iraq demanded the withdrawal of these troops in exchange for the release of a Filipino national that it had kidnapped (Kydd & Walter, 2006). There are more recent examples of terrorist groups using kidnapping. For instance, the Islamic State is known to hold Western journalists and make demands for their release. While terrorist groups usually use kidnapping for political purposes, there are some groups that exploit it for monetary gains. For example, Al Shabaab, a terror network based in Somalia used to kidnap crew members of ships and make demands for ransom.
Beheading
Beheading is the signature tactic of the Islamic State (Silva, 2016). This group kidnapped Western nationals whose beheadings it broadcast. The broadcasts were intended as a message to the Western world. There was public anger and fear when videos showing the beheading of the Westerners surfaced online. The anger and fear are clear indication that the Islamic State succeeded. This group is keen on establishing a caliphate and by carrying out acts of terrorism such as beheadings, the group hopes to achieve this goal. It should be noted that the beheadings and other brutal acts that the group commits are not limited to Western nationals. There have been reports that the group also chops off the heads of locals who oppose them (Silva, 2016). Religious minorities such as the Yazidis have also been reported to have suffered in the hands of the Islamic State.
Bombings
The Boston Marathon Bombing and the 9/11 attacks are just two of the many bombings that have been carried out by terrorist groups. Bombings allow the terrorist groups to inflict great damage. They target such public places as markets which are often crowded. Suicide bombing is now emerging as the preferred method for launching attacks (NCTC, n.d). Suicide bombers are able to evade security checks with much ease and this makes them more effective. In such Middle Eastern countries as Iraq, bombings occur on almost a daily basis. Terrorist groups are usually quick to claim responsibility for bombings. There have even been instances where two different terror networks claim responsibility for the same bombing. The sick desire to claim responsibility for bombings indicates that they are effective.
Shootings
In addition to the tactics already mentioned above, shootings are yet another method that terrorist groups tent to use. The shootings are usually aimed at innocent individuals. For example, a gunman opened fire in a gay club in Orlando. The gunman was not known to any of the victims and this indicates that the victims were innocent members of the public who happened to be at the wrong place when the gunman unleashed a hail of bullets. In late 2014, gunmen drawn from the Taliban stormed a school in Peshawar, Pakistan (Iyengar, 2015). The attack on the school left at least 140 students and teachers at the school dead. This attack points to the brutality and gruesome nature of the crimes that terrorist groups commit. It is as though these groups make no distinction between innocent, unarmed children and their enemies. There are other cases where terrorist groups target security personnel. For example, American forces in Iraq often come under gun fire from insurgent groups. Local security forces also face shootings launched by terrorist groups.
Digital terrorism
Acts of violence and brutality remain the primary tactic that terrorist groups are using. However, these groups today supplement these tactics with digital technologies. These technologies are mainly used for propaganda purposes and recruitment (Holt, 2012). For instance, the Islamic State posts videos of the beheadings that it carries out online. The group also uses such social networks as Twitter to claim responsibility for atrocities and to recruit new members. Twitter has tried to clamp down on this group by disabling its accounts but more accounts used by the group keep popping up. Whatsapp is yet another social networking tool that terrorist groups use for such purposes as recruitment. It is as though digital terrorism cannot be defeated. In addition to publicly-accessible social platforms, terrorist groups also exploit the dark web where it is much difficult to monitor their activities.
Force Multipliers
Force multipliers refer to the factors that offer terrorist groups increased strength and capabilities to pursue their agenda. Technology, religion, cross-border support and the media are some of the factors that have allowed terrorist networks to thrive. Each of these factors is explored in detail in the discussion that follows.
Technology
As already mentioned, terrorists are using social media to advance their agenda. Today, technology is being used by terror groups for recruitment and broadcasting misleading information (Holt, 2012). Cyber-terrorism is emerging as a new threat to global security. Terrorist elements are using modern technologies to launch attacks against their enemies. These attacks take the form of security breaches. Thanks to these attacks, the terror groups are able to obtain information about their targets (Holt, 2012). The anonymity that technology provides has been cited as one of the reasons why it is preferred for carrying out attacks, recruiting members and broadcasting propaganda.
Religion
Religion is perhaps the greatest force that offers terror groups the authority to carry out violent and brutal acts. Opinion is divided on whether Islam sanctions or encourages terrorism. Terror groups usually cite Quranic verses that appear to call on Muslims to wage a ‘holy war’ in the name of God (Gabriel, 2015). Most Muslims believe that Islam is a religion that promotes peace and brotherhood. The Islamic State is among the terrorist groups that cite the Quran and Islamic principles to defend their actions. For instance, the group believes that Islamic law is the only legal tool for administering human affairs. Additionally, Islamic State and other terror networks consider non-Muslims to be ‘infidels’ who should either convert to Islam or be eliminated (Gabriel, 2015). Furthermore, the Islamic State seeks to set up a caliphate, a form of governance where all a theocratic system is in place. It is encouraging to note that the Islamic State has suffered heavy losses following the drive by such parties as the Iraqi army to drive the group out. The Western world and some Arab countries are also committed to ending the terror that the Islamic State has been committing for years.
Cross-border support
All countries have been affected by terrorism in some way. This is the result of the fact that there is transnational support for terrorism. Most terrorist groups have operations in multiple countries. For example, Al Qaeda remains active in Afghanistan and Pakistan, among other countries. Such other groups as the Taliban, Jaish e Mohammad and Lashkar E Taiyyba also have a presence in a number of different countries (Bhonsle, 2011). It is common for terror groups to set up cells in other countries or to enter into affiliations with other groups. Thanks to the affiliations, the terror groups are able to expand their presence and wreak devastation in more regions. The transnational support and presence of terror groups also hinders the global effort to combat terrorism. When a terror cell has been defeated in one place, it simply re-emerges as another outfit in some other place. There are some cases where terrorist groups enjoy the support of governments. Cuba and Libya are some of the countries that have been accused of sponsoring terrorism (Smith, 2015). The support that terror groups receive from these countries make the task of tackling terrorism even more daunting.
The Media
In addition to the factors discussed above, the media is another tool that has enabled terror to thrive. In the United States, the media is known for sensationalizing news reports about attacks carried out by terror cells (Nacos, 2007). This kind of reporting inflames passions and raises tensions within the public. There are some media outlets that promote Islamophobia. This heightens tensions and erodes the progress that is being made in the global war against terrorism. To succeed in tackling terrorism, support from Muslims is needed. By promoting Islamophobia, the media effectively discourages Muslims from supporting the anti-terror campaign. If terrorism is to be successfully and swiftly defeated, there is need for the media to embrace sober, objective, balanced and factual news reporting.
In conclusion, terrorism has claimed thousands of lives and devastated the lives of many. While men are the key players in terrorism, women are beginning to play more active roles. This is very concerning since women are needed to help in the fight against terrorism. This fight has been hampered by the sophisticated tactics that terrorists use. These tactics range from assassinations and kidnappings to beheadings and bombings. The media, religion and technology are also to blame for the difficulties being faced in the war against terrorism. It is true that terrorism still presents a challenge. However, by joining forces and consolidating their resources, parties that desire to see a world without terrorism can indeed defeat this monster.
References
Agara, T. (2015). Gendering Terrorism: Women, Gender, Terrorism and Suicide Bombers. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 5 (6.1), 115-125.
Bhonsle, B. R. (2011). Countering Transnational Terrorism. Delhi: Vij Books India Pvt Ltd.
Ellis, R., Fantz, A., Karimi, F., & McLaughlin, E. C. (2016). Orlando Shooting: 49 Killed,Shooter Pledged ISIS Allegiance. Retrieved 2nd November 2016 from
http://edition.cnn.com/2016/06/12/us/orlando-nightclub-shooting/
Fink, N. C., Barakat, R., & Shetret, L. (2013). The Roles of Women in Terrorism, Conflict, and Violent Extremism. Lessons for the United Nations and International Actors. Goshen, IN: Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation.
Gabriel, M. A. (2015). Islam and Terrorism (Revised and Updated Version): The Truth about ISIS, the Middle East and Islamic Jihad. Lake Mary, FL: Charisma Press.
Holt, T. J. (2012). Exploring the Intersection of Technology, Crime and Terror. Terrorism and Political Violence, 24 (2), 337-354.
Iyengar, R. (2015). Pakistan Marks the First Anniversary of the Peshawar School Massacre. Retrieved 2nd November 2016 from http://time.com/4150911/peshawar-attack-anniversary-pakistan/
Kydd, A. H. & Walter, Walker, B. F. (2006). The Strategies of Terrorism. International Security, 31 (1), 49-80.
Nacos, B. (2007). Mass-Mediated Terrorism: The Central Role of the Media in Terrorism and Counterterrorism. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC). (n.d). Methods & Tactics. Retrieved 2nd November 2016 from https://www.nctc.gov/site/methods.html#sarin
Richards, A. (2015). Conceptualizing Terrorism. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Silva, C. (2016). ISIS Crushes Traitors With Beheadings, Bombings, Drownings And Mass Graves: Islamic State Lashes Out As Iraq Campaign Targets Mosul. Retrieved 2nd November 2016 from http://www.ibtimes.com/isis-crushes-traitors-beheadings-bombings-drownings-mass-graves-islamic-state-lashes-2434245
Smith, P. J. (2015). The Terrorism Ahead: Confronting Transnational Violence in the Twenty-First Century. London: Routledge.
Stack, A. (2011). Zombie Versus Black Widows. Women as Propaganda in the Chechen Conflict. In Sjoberg, L., & Gentry, C. E. (Eds.). (2011). Women, Gender, and Terrorism. Athens, GA: University of Georgia Press.
Witt, J. (2015). Guardian Live: Why do Young Women Want to Join the Islamic State? Retrieved 2nd November 2016 from https://www.theguardian.com/membership/2015/jul/27/guardian-live-why-do-young-women-want-to-join-islamic-state
