"Terrorism is a major threat to global peace and security" - Discuss (Edexcel A2 Exam question)

Define Terrorism (General Description)

What are its factors?

The act itselfThe victimsThe perpetrators

Modern Terrorism – post 9/11

How is modern terrorism different (more dangerous) than historic cases of terrorism?

Read Heywood Chapter on TerrorismLook at Al-Qaeda and the general spread of religious terrorist groupsBefore terrorism was a nationalist or separatist movementThe new cell systemCatastrophic Terrorism – suicide bombers, blowing up buildings etcImbalance of powerGuerrilla warfare type field

The state and media response

Terrorism is inspiring fear and terrorPoliticians focus more on terrorism than anything elseMedia exaggerate the coverage; e.g. on the day of the paris attacks, there were attacks in Mali, and Lebanon, yet Paris was on the headlines. Hundreds are dying in Syria everyday too…

Scale of terrorism compared to other global issues

Less deaths than famine, disease and environmental degradation3000 died in 9/11 but that is still considerably less than conventional warfare

Nature of terrorism and what it achieves

Terrorism in itself can not overthrow governments, but inter state wars and revolutions canThe Arab spring was not a cause of terrorism but a revolutionary movement

Long term

Terrorism can leave traces of ideology over a period of time but it is a historic problem states have had to contend withInter state wars, large scale ones, such as the world wars, or potential world wars threaten global security far more than terrorismClimate change and rising sea levels will have impacts that may last well over 100 years, and is irreversible