The basic idea behind terrorism is to impair or destroy a central governing body
so it is inhibited from providing basic security and guaranteeing the public’s
national safety. The mindset of the terrorist is to instill fear in the general
population and bring to the forefront concerns about their health and safety.
Undermine state and local
government capacities to maintain order and to deliver minimum services to
the public.
Destroy the orderly function
of the economic system, disrupting the economy, negatively affecting
public morale and the socio/economic institutions of a nation’s central
government.
Summary
While this article attempts to define terrorism, the fact is the reasoning
and causes of terrorism are too many and too complex to simply explain away. It
is an area of ongoing study in which the answers and/or solutions may never be
fully attained.