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Chapter 9
Chapter summary
What is terrorism? Any definition is highly controversial. However we have to consider
state and non-state sponsored forms of terror activity.
Terror activities perpetrated by non-state movements challenges the legitimacy of the
nation-state and the so-called monopoly of violence.
Terrorism was a significant feature of the Cold War period and the Al-Qaeda terror
network was created in the aftermath of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979.
September 11th 2001 was carried out by the Al-Qaeda network and the decision to attack
America was deadly and yet highly symbolic: America stood accused of being an
oppressive force which cared little for the condition of the Middle East and Islamic
World.
The Bush administration has sought to devise a highly territorial solution to the threat
posed by terror by invading Afghanistan and Iraq in 2001 and 2003 respectively.
New concerns have been raised as to whether America’s decision to intervene in the
Middle East will solve the problems posed by terror groups in the absence of a
commitment to resolve other disputes such as the Israeli-Palestine conflict.