Terrorism or Terrorism of insurgency- who is a Terrorist?

Since terrorism became a global issue early in the 21st century, many definitions had been given on the phenomenon including who a Terrorist is. The world no doubt has witnessed a rising wave of onslaught from those who claim to fight for emancipation, struggles against injustice, oppression and subordination. Others are poised to start religious cleansing by violently suppressing other forms of religion or perceived faulty social set-up, Often, many scholars have labelled all in the a fore-mentioned list as Terrorists and are labelled as such. of course, teachers with placards on the street, demanding better welfare package from the government would have easily been referred to as Terrorists if we were to label Terrorists as protesters or nationalists. Who is a Terrorist? and what is Terrorism?. We will be able to background our prejudice if we understand the nature of social problems. We understand that any action that alters social relationship and disturbs social order is a social problem. We also agree here that whatever constitutes disorder is not peaceable, therefore, pains, threat to life, destruction of lives and properties are evidences of Terrorism which is aimed at the other party. The alterations in human relations often bring about a 'we' and 'they' dichotomy. Antagonistic relationship then culminates into violence.

So we define Terrorism as any act usually destructive involving the use of threat, arms, that is capable of undermining social order and altering social relationships within the social system and capable of causing injury, pain and death to persons and chaos in the society  and the world at large.

Terrorism is also a state of disintegration of an individual from the larger society or objects of social control. A terrorist therefore, is that person who is isolated from the social world and who perceives in his cognition that the society is irrelevant to his existence. He becomes alien to the norms and values which hitherto bound him to the milieu. This state of mind is not a product of instincts as psychologists would submit, but it is the manifestation of the dysfunctions and conflict evident in our everyday life. We as humans are able to reflect on what we see and construct a model of our own ideal type which often times contradicts existing norms.

Terrorism could also exist as a result of over-integration of an individual to values, beliefs which best suits the essence of living of such, a sub-culture where new identity is made which classifies the rest as 'others', and antagonists of a preconceived ultimate value.

Facts about Terrorism or Terrorists

We need to understand some facts about Terrorism or a Terrorist:

1. It is man made

2. It is a social issue, that is, it exists among groups of people within a given social relationship

3. It involves the use of threat, arms or  any other violent means capable of instilling fear, causing pain, agony and death.

4. The aim of a terrorist or terror group is to impose a new social order through any means

5. Terrorists have new forms of identity; a sub-culture different from the dominant culture.

6. Advancements in technology has made terrorism a global issue.

7. Acts of terror are not spontaneous but gradual and thoughtful and are carried out systematically.

8. Terrorism is not only a religious phenomenon but religious extremism is a major cause of Terrorism.

Written by: Oyekunle Olumide Julius

Sociologist and business expert