Terrorism How Does Terrorism Affect Children? Children

Terrorism

How does terrorism affect children?

Children are often the victims of terrorism, and sometimes die in terrorist attacks (Dyson, 2001). When children witness or survive a terrorist attack, psychological ramifications like post-traumatic stress disorder may result (Hall, 2003). In some cases, children lose their loved ones and their lives may be turned upside down by terrorist attacks as all that is familiar to them -- schools, family, homes, community -- are destroyed (FBI, 2007). The war on terrorism can also affect the lives of children, as the media perpetuates a culture of fear. Children may, for example, be raised to be suspicious of people of different races or ethnicities because their parents, teachers, and the media perpetuate stereotypes about who is and who is not a terrorist.

What makes "martyrdom" such an effective tool for terrorists? Discuss in terms of social construction.

Suicide bombings and other examples of terrorist martyrdom have become increasingly common and high profile incidents because they raise questions about the motives of the terrorist and the terrorist organization. A suicide bomber sends an important message: that the act was not done for selfish motives but for a greater cause that transcends the importance of life itself. Martyrdom is an effective tool primarily because of the symbolism of martyrdom: the ultimate form of self-sacrifice for some perceived greater good.

For Islamic terrorists in particular, martyrdom has a spiritual component (Gunaratna, 2002). The individual draws from statements in the Quran that laud death in the name of Allah. Some passages suggest that the spiritual martyr will enjoy the fruits of his or her labor in the afterlife. Although traditionally, the term jihad refers to a personal, internal struggle of a person against things like temptation, it has been misappropriated to connote a religious war: an external war of believers in Islam vs. non-believers or infidels.

In terms of social construction, both the concept of martyr and the concept of jihad have been instrumental for terrorist groups. Suicide as an act of defilement of spiritual law can be conceptually transformed into suicide as spiritual glory, carried out in the name of Allah (Zaideman, n.d.). The martyr has become a socially constructed category: a person who warrants great respect and who receives accolades in the afterlife. Jihad is a socially constructed concept, too. It is no longer an internal spiritual struggle of man against himself (or woman against herself) but an external war between the defenders of Islam and the infidels.

3. How do threat levels and vulnerability assessments assist military installations with terrorist response? Is this a good model for civilian governments to use?