How much of a threat is terrorism today?

[Lord de Lyonesse]

This is an essay question I have to do for my War and Studies module within the subject of History.
I'm thinking of perhaps assessing how there is no one, single accepted definition of terrorism - perhaps discuss the difficulties in differentiating terrorism from a freedom fighter. Also as I am a bit of an anarchist; I would make the argument that perhaps all form of centralised control (government for example) could be seen as terrorism in a way as it is imprisoning individuals within a society whereby there true nature is blemished and unable to be fully discovered.

Feel free to help me on this, if you could state what you personally think and then perhaps pass some examples of why you think your way. Examples of North Korea could be shown as an example of state-enacted terrorism and perhaps proof we still live in a dangerous world.

[Armenum]

In my opinion the thing that has enabled modern day terrorism to increase is the access to information as a result of the information age. Things like internet, television have enabled terrorist networks to be more organized and gather more information about their targets. So in my opinion as the access to information increases along with modern technology, the threat of terrorism also increases. Effective security measures of course slow down that increase, but gaps will always remain.

And we musn't forget the growing threat of cyber-terrorism, which of course is less violent (obviously) but can still create havoc and do much damage...

[Lord de Lyonesse]

In my opinion the thing that has enabled modern day terrorism to increase is the access to information as a result of the information age. Things like internet, television have enabled terrorist networks to be more organized and gather more information about their targets. So in my opinion as the access to information increases along with modern technology, the threat of terrorism also increases. Effective security measures of course slow down that increase, but gaps will always remain.

And we musn't forget the growing threat of cyber-terrorism, which of course is less violent (obviously) but can still create havoc and do much damage...

Yeah, the abundance of information available does allow those who would wish to create terror access and indeed allows it to take on a more advance and increased role. However what do you think of government themselves utilising terror tactics in order to fulfill a desired outcome? This is perhaps why no one definition has been accepted: US citizens have unwittingly contributed money through taxes to depose entire governments within South America.. Plus Irish-Americans gave money to the IRA during the troubles - much to the disdain of the UK.

I would say terrorism, like anarchism as argued on a seperate thread has existed longer than at first people realise. When 9/11 happened politicians across the world came out and said 'we were dealing with a very new and dangerous force' Bullturd. It's been around for ages, its just now the side seems increasingly mde out by the mainstream media to be West vs East, Islam vs Christianity and made out to be some big battle for survival. When actually it is more likely isolated events, perhaps seeking unification with something they (the terrorists) think themselves intimidating: USA and 'Americanization'.
Aptly argued in the book 'Jihad vs McWorld.'

I like to think of terrorism as anything that involves using terror for whatever your goal may be.

Like the name suggests, really.

''Terrorist.''

Dude that uses terror to get what he wants.

Yeah, pretty much. In that respects I think government themselves are true terrorist. Limiting people to what they can and can't do as decided by others. Perhaps this is me showing my anarchistic side, but I think it's true. Why institutions such as the police, the military and religion exist is simply methods of control and restriction and to uphold things as they are and to stop real progress. In essence those aforementioned things are simply the columbs holding up the disparty that exists. People steal because they want something someone else has got and nations have a military to defend themselves from others. All seems pretty pointless once one grasps we're all one. Human, and saw our tiny planet from space back in 1969.

Also @SinerAthin, how can one preserve and yet advance/evolve at the same time? I understand ones need to remember and keep history but preservation seems conservative and expresses a unwillingness to change?

[SinerAthin]

I like to think of terrorism as anything that involves using terror for whatever your goal may be.

Like the name suggests, really.

''Terrorist.''

Dude that uses terror to get what he wants.