What is political terrorism?

Political terrorism is an illegal threat or use of violence against civilians, certain social groups, governments. Such actions include explosions in places of congestion, the killing of civilians, the seizure of hostages, buildings and aircraft, and each such crime is committed by a group of persons for the realization of their own selfish ends.

History : In a primitive form, political terrorism was known even at the time of antiquity, however, this method of pressure on the authorities was most often used since the second half of the XIX century. For example, in Russia there was practically no Tsar, who would not have been attempted. If earlier the authorities were killed as a result of behind-the-scenes intrigues and palace coups, and intruders often used poison, by the end of the XIX century criminals began to organize terrorist acts.

The notion of a political regime that is hostile to a large part of the population comes to the forefront at this time. The methods of terror were used by groups that shared "leftist" views and sought to eliminate the autocracy. The most frequent were explosions of a cortege in which the king was passing by, or a railway track at the time the train was moving, where representatives of the ruling dynasty were.

Modernity : Now political terrorism takes other forms, it can have the character of guerrilla warfare, or even be expressed in military operations, into which various states are drawn. And one side of the conflict, evaluating itself as the fighters for the idea, seeks to blackmail the governments of different countries with the goal of achieving their goals, and their opponents are forced to stop the actions of criminal groups, protecting the constitutional and public order in the entrusted territory.

The target of terrorists is often the symbolism of the country and power structures, the state as a whole and the most important social norms. If the population is politicized, it is easier for criminal groups to implement their plans, since threats often affect the results of voting and the formation of public opinion. For countries where the life of citizens is a real value, such intimidation can result in serious political concessions in order to prevent the unjustified killing of civilians.

Modern political terrorism, examples of which can be found in almost every state, are most often based on ethnic separatism. And criminal acts related to the death of hundreds of people are sent to gain independence by individual regions. The formations that prepare for terrorist acts and their implementation have a clear structure, they include a considerable number of ideological fighters, as well as strategists and tacticians whose plans are difficult to disclose even to the special services of the most developed countries. Such groups operate in Ireland, in Corsica, in the region of Spain where Basques live, and the goal of each terrorist act is the recognition by the country's leadership of the independence of a certain part of the territory.

Examples : Political terrorism was typical of Iraq controlled by Saddam Hussein, and among the criminal actions of this politician, one can single out the manifestation of open aggression against its neighbors, the genocide of its own people, the lack of basic freedoms and rights for citizens. The dictator managed to maintain the political regime he introduced for a long time by completely eliminating the people from governing the country, brutal repression, getting rid of opponents and banning the registration of any parties.

The criminal activities of the international group of al-Qaeda are not limited to terrorist attacks in a certain country, and thanks to explosions, aircraft seizures, and destruction of buildings, representatives of this group are trying to intimidate the whole world.