3.4. Study the Key Concepts. Sum up the major points. Key Concepts

Combating terrorism – comprised of anti-terrorism efforts (measures to protect against or mitigate future terrorist attacks) and counter-terrorism efforts (proactive actions designed to retaliate against or forestall terrorist actions).

Globalization – a catch-all phrase often used to describe single world-economy after the collapse of communism, though sometimes employed to define the growing integration of the international capitalist system in the post-war period.

Islam – a religious faith by the Prophet Muhammad which in the present period functions as a form of political identity for millions and the inspiration of what some at least now regard as the most important ideological opposition to Western modern values.

Europe – a geographical expression that during the course of the cold war came to be identified with Western Europe, but since 1989 has once again come to be associated with the whole of the European conflict.

Source: The globalization of world politics.

J.Baylis and S.Smith

Types of terrorist groups

Audrey Kurth Cronin has outlined different types of terrorist groups and their historical importance in the following way:

“There are four types of terrorist organizations currently operating around the world, categorized mainly by their source of motivation: left-wing terrorists, right-wing terrorists, ethnonationalist/ separatist terrorists, are religious or “sacred” terrorists. All four types have enjoyed periods of relative prominence in the modern era, with left-wing terrorism intertwined with the Communist movement, right-wing terrorism drawing its inspiration from fascism, and the bulk of ethnonationalist/ separatist terrorism accompanying the wave of decolonization especially in the immediate post-World War II years. Currently, “sacred” terrorism is becoming more significant.”

Source: The globalization of world politics.

John Baylis and Steve Smith

War on terror

“In defending the peace, we face a threat with no precedent. Enemies in the past needed great armies and great industrial capabilities to endanger the American people and our nation. The attacks of September 11th required a few hundred thousand dollars in the hands of a few dozen evil and deluded men. All of the chaos and suffering they caused came at much less than the cost of a single tank. The dangers have not passed. The government and the American people are on the watch, we are ready, because we know the terrorists have more money and more men and more plans.”

Source: George W.Bush.

Speech at West Point, 1 June 2002.

Coalition of the Willing

The term coalition of the willing is a post-1990 political phrase used to describe military or military/humanitarian interventions for which the United Nations Security Council cannot agree to mount a full UN peacekeeping operation. It has existed in the political science/international relations literature at least since UN peacekeeping operations began to run into deep trouble in 1993-94, and alternatives began to be considered. One early documented use of the phrase was by President Bill Clinton in June 1994 in relation to possible operations against North Korea, at the height of the 1994 stand-off with North Korea over nuclear weapons.

Source: Wikipedia

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