The challenges of identifying the causes of terrorism
[1] The causes of terrorism seem almost impossible for anyone to define. Here's why: they change
[2] over time. Listen to terrorists ∈ different periods and you'll hear different explanations. Then, listen to
[3] the scholars who explain terrorism. Their ideas change over time too, as new trends ∈ academic
[4] thinking take hold. Many writers begin statements about "the causes of terrorism" as if terrorism were a
[5] scientific phenomenon whose characteristics are fixed for all time, like the 'causes' of a disease, or the
[6] 'causes' of rock formations.
[7] Terrorism isn't a natural phenomenon though. It is the name given by people about other
[8] people's actions ∈ the social world. Both terrorists and terrorism's explainers are influenced by
[9] dominant trends ∈ political and scholarly thought. Terrorists—people who threaten or use violence
[10] against civilians with the hope of changing the status quo—perceive the status quo ∈ ways that accord
[11] with the era they live ∈. People who explain terrorism are also influenced by prominent trends ∈ their
[12] professions. These trends change over time.
[13] Even if it is uncomfortable to think of people who do terrible things to innocent people as part of
[14] our same world, I believe it is important to try.
[15] People who have chosen terrorism ∈ the last century have been influenced by the same broad
[16] trends that we all have. The difference is, they chose violence as a response.
[17] 1920S - 1930S: SOCIALISM AS A CAUSE: socialism was becoming a dominant way for many people
[18] to explain the political and economic injustice they saw developing ∈ capitalist societies, and for
[19] defining a solution. Millions of people expressed their commitment to a socialist future without violence,
[20] but a small number of people ∈ the world thought violence was necessary.
[21] 1950S - 1980S: NATIONALISM AS A CAUSE: terrorist violence ∈ these years reflected the post-World
[22] War II trend ∈ which previously suppressed populations committed violence against states that had not
[23] given them a voice ∈ the political process. Algerian terrorism against French rule; Basque violence
[24] against the Spanish state; Kurdish actions against Turkey; the Black Panthers and Puerto Rican
[25] militants ∈ the United States all sought a version of independence from oppressive rule.
[26] 1980S - TODAY: RELIGIOUS JUSTIFICATIONS AS A CAUSE: economic dislocations because of the
[27] Gulf War ∈ the 1990s caused many Palestinian, Egyptian and other men working ∈ the Persian Gulf to
[28] lose their jobs. When they returned home, they found women had assumed their roles ∈ households
[29] and jobs. Religious conservatism, including the idea that women should be modest and not work, took
[30] hold ∈ this atmosphere. In this way, both West and East saw a rise ∈ fundamentalism ∈ the 1990s.
[31] FUTURE: ENVIRONMENT AS A CAUSE: new terrorism forms and new explanations are underway,
[32] however. These are often environmental ∈ nature. Some predict the rise of 'green' terrorism ∈Europeviolent
[33] sabotage on behalf of environmental policy. Animal rights activists have also revealed a fringe
[34] violent edge. Just as ∈ earlier eras, these forms of violence mimic the dominant concerns of our time
[35] across the political spectrum.
Adapted from:< https://www.thoughtco.com/why-are-the-causes-of-terrorism-so-hard-to-identify-3209054> Acessed on: August 22nd, 2017.
Mark the correct statement according to the text.
