Argentina's Counterterrorism Policy and UN Cooperation

Introduction

Terrorism is nowadays one of the most important aspects of international security that states and international organizations are trying to address at all levels, both internal and global. This is largely due to the fact that the terrorist threat does not represent a regular challenge to national and international security, but rather an unconventional one whose motives, reasons, and targets cannot be fully understood or identified. In this sense, it has been argued that "the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on 11 September 2001 have focused attention on the issue of international terrorism as an urgent matter for the United Nations" (International Peace Academy, 2002). This is why it is important that action be taken at all levels. States around the world are more or less willing to adapt their laws, politics, and policies to deter the terrorist phenomenon.

Argentina is a particularly interesting case because it represents a cooperative country willing to address its problems as well as to prevent further ones in the fight against terrorism. At a global level, the United Nations represents the primary forum for communication and collaboration between states worldwide, and the accredited entity for the establishment of rules and norms governing the international scene. This is why the manner in which states communicate at the global level and within the UN is of crucial importance. The activities conducted under the UN flag represent the collective will of the international community and constitute a coordinated effort to counter the threat of insurgency.

Terrorism cannot be countered with full efficiency without a proper definition of the term itself. As one scholar has noted, "definitions of terrorism are controversial for reasons other than conceptual issues and problems. Because labeling actions as 'terrorism' promotes condemnation of the actors, a definition may reflect ideological or political bias. Given such considerations, [scholars] discourage attempts to define terrorism" (Gibbs, 1989, 1). Under these circumstances, it is rather difficult to find the best solution for an eventual coordinated response at the international level. Nevertheless, the actions undertaken through the United Nations remain important for an overall solution. This is largely due to the fact that "terrorism is a special type of violence. It is a tactic used in peace, conflict, and war. The threat of terrorism is ever present, and an attack is likely to occur when least expected. A terrorist attack may be the event that marks the transition from peace to conflict or war" (U.S. Army, n.d.). A similar point of view is shared by Ariel Merari and Paul Wilkinson, two of the most important scholars in the analysis of terrorism and political violence (Merari, n.d.; Wilkinson, n.d.). From this perspective, the role of each member country of the organization is essential. Argentina is a relatively positive example in this regard, given the willingness it has demonstrated throughout the years in the fight against terrorism — especially since the terrorist attacks on the Israeli Embassy in the early 1990s.

This paper addresses the position of the Argentine state in relation to terrorism. The first part focuses on the general interest of the state in international affairs and within the UN. The second part deals with the legal and other actions in which the Argentine state has participated. Third, it offers a comparison with the attitudes of states in the region and highlights the extent to which Argentina's approach differs from or resembles that of its neighbors. Fourth, it identifies areas where more work remains to be done concerning Argentina's counterterrorism posture, and specifies goals and areas where negotiation is and is not possible. Finally, a set of suggestions for improving current policies is offered, with particular attention given to the national factors involved in the decision-making process.

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