Mapping the Mutations of Terrorism

Saron M. ObiaPan African Institute for Development

West AfricaPAID-WA Buea, Cameroon

Outline

Why are crimes changing?What is the system?What is terrorism?What is psychology of evil depression?How do terrorists get into a country?What are the tools used by terrorists?What are they measures to be adapted to counter-terrorism?What are the 4p to counter terrorism? 

Why are crimes changing? system of hegemony control post-cold war changing theories

NB: International security remains a vital issue on the global agenda. It involves more than states and military conflicts. The concept has been widen with empirical analysis of contemporary security issues such as terrorism, proliferation and failed states. The interest of this presentation is to enable counter-terrorism units to understand the changing trends of terrorism.

What is the system?TerrorismInternational security focuses on the development of world war 2 and through the cold war period as events in Latin America, USA, Britain and other parts of Europe excluding Greece and Spain. In the post cold war period the focus is on the 9/11 2001 attacks on the twin tower in USA, London bus bombing which proceeded the Spanish railway attack,14January 2015 Paris bombing and the recent events in Belgium . It should be noted that is was only after the 9/11 that the counter-terrorism unit idea came to reality, after the notion in the late 90s.

What is terrorism?It has 109 definitionsCastro defined terrorism as use of violence to achieve a

political goal. Political terrorism is due to the fear of the ballot box. Religious terrorism is the need to establish a caliphate. Hezbollah say their freedom fighters. The three patterns;

-violence -psychological fear -publicityTypes of terrorism -economic -intellectual -biological -poor people

David Altheide : Terrorism and the politics of fear

What is psychology of evil depression?Categories of crimes as a result of failure in lifeDue to materialistic ideasCauses of these eventsworld order-hegemony -survival -national interest -power politics -global arms industryethno-religious and cultural conflictsIdeological believe, for example Boko Haram considers

democracy as for anti MuslimPeter Zeihan: “The Accident of Super Powers”

How do terrorists get into a country?Anyone can be a terroristTerrorist enter countries as refugeesAsylum and even scholarships in certain universities. When

well established, they begin to expand the network of the organization. For example the Paris attack 2015

The use of illegal documents (stolen documents) like passport, credit cards and visa

Multiculturalism also aids, since it open doors for people ( future terrorism spots ). Counter-terrorism units must monitor mostly refugee camps, boundaries and asylum seekers.

The quest for intelligence and recruitment of security officers, need adequate scrutiny. The 9/11 case can well explain this.

What are the tools used by terrorists?Knives and garroteExplosive and bombsPistols and revolversAutomatic assault riflesHeavy and light machine gunsAntitank rockets and gunsMortarsMan Portable Air

Malcolm W. Nance : Terrorist Recognition Handbook

What are they measures to be adapted to counter-terrorism?Need for a coalitioncensorship of social media. This is one of the main source of

recruitment by terrorist groups (ISIS and Al Queada) Mapping of vulnerable and operational areaMonitoring of financial transactions within and out of the

country(hacking of bank accounts)Updating the security database of all criminals, asylum

seekers and immigrantsIdentify security, engineering, programming and IT students.

They are likely to be contacted by terrorist groups, like Jihadi John

What are the 4p to counter terrorism?

PreventionPersuitProtectionpreparation