Violent extremism leading to terrorism

• Author: Mensur Morina
• Position: Executive Director of the LIZA-R organization, University of South East Europe-Tetovo and Hacett epe University Ankara
• Pages: 218-235

Vol. 3 No. 1

January, 2019

European Journal of Economics, Law and Social Sciences

IIPCCL Publishing, Graz-Austria

ISSN 2519-1284

Acces online at www.iipccl.org

218

Violent extremism leading to terrorism

PHD. Mensur Morina

Executive Director of the LIZA-R organization,

University of South East Europe-Tetovo and Hace epe University Ankara

Abstract

The subject of this paper is the phenomenon of violent extremism and radicalization leading to

terrorism. The phenomenon of violent extremism and radicalization in Kosovo is an integral

part of the overall criminality that has emerged due to the lack of su cient researches and

inadequate treatment and is now bringing consequences to our society.

The activities of violent extremism by terrorists’ groups and individuals’ throughout the last

decades are undoubtedly the key security challenge for many western countries. Violent

extremism certainly falls in the line of the most serious criminal o enses, and has historically

emerged when radical or di erent terrorist groups, unhappy with existing national or

international relations, have tried to change them.

Theoretical and practical approaches are required to address this topic. This process requires

challenges, and despite the reform e orts, the government engagement and the ongoing call

for change, li le has improved. Progress in defi ning the most important goals has been slow

and the solutions were not genuine.

In this paper I will try to present my views and knowledge about the systematic violence that

leads to terrorism, defi nition, nature, history, various groups, human rights and freedom etc.

Key words: Kosovo, extremism, security, religion, violence, prevention, terrorism.

Background

At the beginning of the second millennium, during the 1090-1275, the Shi'ite sects of

Ismili and Nizari a acked Crusaders and Muslims many times. They used daggers

(small swords) in close quarted combats, and this way of a ack, laying emphasis

on the terror and the willingness to die in order to accomplish their mission, can be

compared to today's suicide a acks.1

The term terrorism for the fi rst time was used during the French Revolution.

"Regime de la terreur" (1793-1794) was a systematic a empt to expel traitors of

the Revolution and send them to the guillotine. Initially, the violence or terror had

positive connotations because they were directed against destroyers and dissidents,

whom the new regime perceived as enemies of the people. Violence spread, and even

the revolutionary leader, Robspierri, along with another 40,000 people were sent to

guillotine during the "Regime de la terrorur". A li le later Englishman Edmund Bruke,

a vigorous critic of the revolution, called the Revolution's followers as terrorists.2

1 John Gearson, “The nature of Modern Terrorism”, E# 2737, page 7, “Europian Centre For Security

Studies”, “George C. Marshall”, Garmish- Partenkirchen, Gjermani.

2 Dr. Harvey Kushner, `Encyclopedia of terrorism``, Thousand Oaks, London, New Delhi: Sage

Publications Inc. 2003, page 359.

European Journal of Economics, Law and Social Sciences

IIPCCL Publishing, Graz-Austria

Vol. 3 No. 1

January, 2019

ISSN 2519-1284

Acces online at www.iipccl.org

219

In the XIXth century in Russia was created a very successful terrorist organization

that was motivated on the Russian revolutionary Mikhail Bakunin, who a century ago

called for the purging of Russian land through terrorist acts by individuals or small

groups. This organization, called "Nardnya Volya" (People's Desire), operated from

January 1878 until March 1881, and was led by Sofi a Perovskaia (Sofya Perovskaya),

followed by a wave of explosions and murders, targeting the Russian Tzar Alexander

II, along with the royal family and many state o cials who were seen as part of a

corrupt regime.3

At the end of the XIX century and early twentieth century, terrorism in the form of

political killings became a global phenomenon. Such political murders were carried

out against General Martinez Campos in Barcelona in 1892; French President Sadi

Carnot in 1894; Queen Elizabeth of Austro-Hungary in 1898; King Umberto of Italy in

1900; US President Wailliam Mc Kinley in 1901. The World War I began a er the killing

of Austrian Archduke Franc Ferdinand and his wife Sofi a, by Serbian nationalist

Gavrilo Princip, who was a member of the organization Mlada Bosna (New Bosnia).4

Between the two world wars the history of mankind was characterized by a lot of

violence and terror done by the state itself, and by its institutions. The acts of classical

terrorism were rare and during this period the state-run violence by the fascists in

Germany and the communists in Russia shadowed the terrorist acts of individuals

or groups. The persecution of political opponents, the labelling, and persecution of

Jewish citizens in Germany, Netherlands and Austria, but also in Russia, was based

on an ideological warfare that had its basis in state-run terrorism against groups

of certain political, national, religious and racial belonging. The Hitler regime in

Germany and its infl uence on the surrounding states, and the Stalin regime in Russia

were the biggest perpetrators of state terror in this period.

A er World War II, especially in the 50s and 60s of the last century, terrorism was

widely used as a tactic by nationalist groups fi ghting for independence in the Middle

East, North Africa and Asia. Traditional terrorist acts were registered in the cities

of Palestine and Cyprus. On the other side of the globe, in Latin America, many

le ist movements appeared, carrying out many terrorist acts of kidnapping, bank

robbery and explosions. Such acts were recorded in Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina and

other countries in this part of the globe. In the 1970s, the fi rst ideologically motivated

terrorist groups in the continent of Europe were represented by RAF (Red Army

Fraction) in Germany, Brigade Rose (Red Brigades) in Italy, Direct Action in France,

ETA in Spain up to the Palestine Liberation Movement (PLO) in Palestine.5

During the 1970s to the 1990s of the last century, the world saw the extinction

and elimination of many terrorist groups all over the world, but new groups and

organizations emerged on the horizon. The new terrorist groups of this period

operating in the Middle East and Europe were characterized by the orientation of

3 Nick Pra , Profesor of Starategies and International Politics, `` Terrorism: History&Causes, Yes-

terday, Today, Forever”, lecture at “Europian Centre For Security Studies”, “George C. Marshall”,

Garmish- Partenkirchen, Gjermani, Mars 2010.

4 Dr. Harvey Kushner, `Encyclopedia of terrorism``, Thousand Oaks, London, New Delhi: Sage

Publications Inc. 2003, page 360.

5 Dr. Harvey Kushner, `Encyclopedia of terrorism``, Thousand Oaks, London, New Delhi: Sage

Publications Inc. 2003, page 361.