Four Waves Of Terrorism

On the other hand, Modern terrorism’s method of warfare is termed as indirect. This is due to the fact that in this face of terrorism, the aim of the activity is fundamentally altered. The terrorist now aims to inflict maximum damage to property and violent casualties as opposed to making political demands. Traditional weapons are used, but these are used in such a manner so as to inflict maximum destruction. In contrast with both these types of terrorism is the Postmodern terrorism. In this, the aim of the activity is to alter the very reality of the conflict. This is done through the use of CBRN (i.e. chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons) to inflict far-reaching and unimaginable damage to the very core of the enemy. Another

According to this concept, the First Wave of terrorism occurred during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Second Wave is generally referred to as the ‘colonial’ wave. It began from 1921 and is limited to the geographical boundaries of countries. The Third Wave led to international terrorism, whereby it moved out of national boundaries and spread across the globe on a much wider scale. This wave was prevalent during the 1960s . The Fourth Wave of terrorism is generally identified as the ‘new’ terrorism mentioned earlier. This wave is characterized by attacks on an international scale, religious justifications for taking lives, easy access to technologically advanced weapons and tactics of war, wider and more efficient net of communication and movement, and greater availability of monetary support and weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). A striking example of this wave is the September 11 attacks in the USA. Thus, in the Fourth Wave, killing any number of targets is justified without taking into account the individual differences that characterize the target population. This is achieved through the use of WMDs or CBRN weapons that maximize the damage caused to the target population. Terrorism turns into, in Hobbes’ words, a bellum omnium contra omnes (the war of all against all). It develops a ‘Culture of Terror’ where there are no rules of operation, just

These differences are deep-rooted in that they have been developed through centuries of cultivation of religious ideas and doctrines, most of which contradict those from other religions. Even if different religions extend the same ideals, they are interpreted to be contradictory in order to fuel terrorists’ own radical motivations. The concept of Clash of Civilizations, thus, provides an example of new terrorism, which can be observed through the clash of cultures of the Middle-Eastern and Western civilizations. Another concept deals with this clash of ideals and ideologies and is termed as the War of Ideas. Both the concepts essentially discuss the same problem. Through these processes, the groups supporting different cultures and ideologies attempt to create a new world order that is favorable to the dominant ideas of their own culture or ideology. For this purpose, such groups are not ashamed of the methods through which they attempt to achieve such an order, as these methods are justified in the name of the only true religion and God, to whom they are accountable. Such terrorist groups do not deny responsibility for their terrorist acts and are not open to discussion or negotiation . Of particular