Old and New Terrorism- patterns of terrorist activity

1. Old and New Terrorism- patterns of terrorist activity • Definition: "the calculated use of unlawful violence or threat of unlawful violence to inculcate fear; intended to coerce or to intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of goals that are generally political, religious, or ideological." (US Department of Defence). • Trends of terrorism. The changing characteristics of terrorist activity: structure, objectives, tactics, capabilities, external aid. • The EU and US counterterrorism approaches.

2. Structure: identifiable organisations with command and control apparatus Objectives: defines set of political, social and economic objectives: radical leftist and ethno-nationalist movements Tactics: highly selective and mostly discriminative acts of violence; took credit and explained their attacks Capabilities: smaller numbers External aid: safehavens, training, logistics Structure: less cohesive, loose structures; diffuse structure and membership; networks Objectives: less comprehensive nationalist or ideological motivations; theological justification Tactics: indiscriminate casualties; high lethality acts; more reticent Capabilities: smaller, deadlier and accessible weapons; operational competence External aid Terrorism changing characteristics

3. The EU and US counterterrorism strategies post 9/11 • Differing strategic cultures. • The US/ EU counterterrorist approaches External security approaches: • The use of military force; • Significance accorded to multilateralism; • Long-term strategies Internal security approaches- law enforcement, judicial process, intelligence. • Transatlantic divergence and convergence