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Perpetuating Factors of Terrorism Review for Thomas Pogge's book "Politics

as Usual - What Lies Behind the Pro-Poor Rhetoric"

Research · June 2015

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.4406.2885

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WILLY BRANDT SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ERFURT
WS14/15

Perpetuating Factors Of Terrorism

Ethical Issues in the Public Sector - 300LEM01
Markus Pins & Justus Lenz

Javidan Mehdiyev

07.02.2015
 PERPETUATING FACTORS OF TERRORISM  
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Content
Introduction ........................................................................................................... 3
Terrorism: Violations And Misunderstandings Of Generations ........................... 4
Socio-Economic (Nationalist Or Separatist) Reasons Of Terrorism .................... 5
Religious Reasons Of Terrorism ........................................................................... 6
Political Reasons Of Terrorism ............................................................................. 8
Conclusion: Analogy Of Pogge’s Arguments ..................................................... 10
BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................................... 14

 
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Introduction
Reviewing the book “Politics as Usual: What Lies Behind the pro-Poor Rhetoric” by
well-know philosopher Thomas Pogge, his approach to the current international relations
system can be easily understood. Pogge heavily criticizes present and past efforts of
international organizations, governments, and politics in resolving ongoing problems such as
poverty, healthcare, human rights, and other issues that concern improving lives of people
around the world.
Thomas Pogge, a German philosopher, argues that there is little difference between
those who passively support the present system of international relations and those who
passively supported the Nazi regime during the Second World War. This is a very crude
analogy nowadays, however if this comparison is viewed more objectively and each in its
own specific context, it is not so far from reality. The reason is that the average citizen is also
taking part in supporting the violation of human rights by buying products like mobile
phones, filling their tanks with fuel, which were produced mostly in undeveloped countries,
which violate human rights.  Pogge argues that certain parallels can be drawn concerning the
silence of the public during both the Nazi regime and the current human rights violations.
Arguments given by Pogge carry alarming implications. Trying not to see the
problems will not over or make them less. The author believes that deep brainstorming
concerning how to fix these issues can help to solve them. This is a very wide topic which can
be discussed at length because in his views the author is not just asking for equity in regions
like Africa and Asia, his analysis goes more deeply and covers the Global Justice, which is
also tied to the book “Theory of Justice” by John Rawls.
The main line of argument, which Pogge defends in his book, is global poverty. Every
year, annual cash flows go for military, or for unnecessary things, when people all around the
world die from hunger and remedial diseases.1
Furthermore, Pogge has put very good questions for discussions about terrorism in his
7th chapter, “Making War on Terrorists: Reflections on Harming the Innocent”. He tried to
highlight issues concerning reasons, conditions, and ideology of terrorism.
In the book “Politics   as   Usual:   What   Lies   Behind   the   Pro-­‐Poor   Rhetoric” it was
argued that there is no justification for killing innocent people to get any benefits. However,
the main differences between terror and international crime is ideology, because terrorists

                                                                                                               
1 Thomas Pogge, 2010, ‘Politics as Usual: What Lies Behind the Pro-Poor Rhetoric’, Cambridge: Polity Press, 137-38

 
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hold ‘special’ political views that give them ‘reason’ to kill innocents. 2 Furthermore, unlike
Pogge, Kai Nielsen expanded on this by indicating that terrorism should be justified by
political influence and ethical standings, and terrorism should not be discussed with the same
parameters, the cases are different, so they should be discussed separately case-by-case. 3
Moreover, Pogge also has shown the reasons why terrorism cannot be justified. By
standing on the argument that there can be no justification of killing innocent people for the
‘greater goods’. It is very close to the argument by the book ‘The Burdens of Terrorism’ by
Nicholas Fotion. Unlike Nielsen, Fotion proved that there is no justification for terrorism no
matter the circumstances. While killing innocents for ‘greater goods’ and covering actions by
their ideology they don’t give victims alternatives, which is direct terrorism.4

Terrorism: Violations and misunderstandings of generations

‘Terrorism’ is ‘the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, especially for
political purposes’.5 There are more than a hundred terroristic organizations all over the
world. They differ with their ideology, organizational structure, methods/tactics, and activity
region.
Nowadays, international organizations and scientists pay attention to the problem of
the causes of terrorism. This problem is one of the major challenges in the development and
improvement of legal measures to combat terrorism. Depending on the resolution of this
problem concerning this serious crime, it will be easier to take measures to combat it.
Differentiation of terrorism from other serious crimes in international law stands on
the factor of its causes and conditions affecting spheres of social life. Those usually include,
legal, socio-economic, organizational, managerial, educational, ideological, psychological,
socio-political, and other causes or processes that cause crime in these areas of life.
The 8th International Congress of the United Nations Crime Prevention and the
Treatment of Offenders (Havana, 1990), identified the root causes of terrorism as: poverty,
unemployment, illiteracy, lack of affordable housing, inadequate system of education and
training, lack of prospects in life, alienation and marginalization of the population,

                                                                                                               
2 Thomas Pogge, 2010, ‘Politics as Usual: What Lies Behind the Pro-Poor Rhetoric’, Cambridge: Polity Press, 143
3 Kai Nielsen, 1981, ‘Violence and Terrorism: Its Uses and Abuses’, in Leiser, Burton M., ed., Values in Conflict, New
York: Macmillan, 435–49
4 Nicholas Fotion, 1981, “The Burdens of Terrorism”, in Leiser, Burton M., ed., Values in Conflict, New York: Macmillan,
463–70
5 Terrorism. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged. Retrieved January 31, 2015, from Dictionary.com website:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/terrorism

 
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exacerbation of social inequality, the weakening of family and social ties, the shortcomings of
education, the negative effects of migration, the destruction of cultural identity, lack of
cultural and community purpose, distribution media ideas and views, leading to an increase in
violence, inequality and intolerance.6
Feeding ground for terrorism can be places where people are poor, and where people
feel themselves abandoned from others. Thomas Pogge powered his arguments by looking at
the root of the problem and finding reasons and tying it with conditions where and how
terrorism started. It is possible to get several reasons from Pogge’s book. Specifically, he
discusses the moral aspects of terrorism, and in another dimension, he also tried to make
reasons and arguments for the root of the problem. There are several major factors, which
influence for the wide spreading of terrorism.

Socio-economic (nationalist or separatist) reasons of terrorism

It is not surprising that most of the main pestholes of terrorism are regions, which are
suffering problems of human rights, inequality, and other affected areas. When people feel
that their social rights are humiliated and the only way to ask for justice is force, it is
terrorism based on socio-economic ground. Usually, it is a significant decline in living
standards, combined with unprecedented increased social differentiation that cause such
socio-psychological factors such as anger, envy, hatred, and nostalgia.
During early 20th century (from 1920s to 1930s), several countries had very high
social inequality and people decided to punish rich people. They covered their violence by
calling it anarchism, socialism, and communism. Most countries used to use socialism to
define a welfare state with political and economic justice, as well as, capitalism to define the
opposite. The majority of people declared themselves to be ready to enter into socialism
without violence, however there were some people who wanted it with violence.
Furthermore, there are examples like: Widespread distribution of weapons among the
population, military training and specific military mentality associated with the participation
of a large part of the military in actual combat events (Afghan and Chechen wars) and the
forced reshaping of many special services in to the criminal structures; The availability of
weapons and a large number of ex-military officers who want to undermine or overthrow their
governments (for example, the activities of the West German "Red Army Faction" (RAF) and

                                                                                                               
6 United Nations, Report of the 8th United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders,
Havana: 1990, page 182-84

 
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the Italian "Red Brigades"); national self-assertion (for example, the activity of the Armenian
Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA)).
Thomas Pogge in his book ‘Politics as Usual: What Lies Behind the Pro-Poor
Rhetoric’ was alarming that factors like, violations of human rights, inflation, energy crisis,
and other socio-economic problems make people to look for ‘greater goods’ in extreme ways,
even for terror among innocent people.7

Religious reasons of terrorism

Morality of terrorism with religious aspect as an argument is very unstable because
solidarity of social acceptance of religious dogmas fluctuates over time and the things that
were usual a decade before might not be ‘popular’ nowadays. So, although violations against
people of different religions, race or any other differences had previously been common, these
things are now illegal. The reason for such changes is changing moral aspects of modern
society. Nevertheless, there are always some religious leaders who prefer to control people
with the help of religion. That’s why most current ideologies of terrorist organizations are
based on religious values. So, what pushes people to commit morally unacceptable crimes and
use religion to justify themselves?
In the early 1990s in Saudi Arabia there were 52 mosques, after 10 years there were
1500. This is not a crime, but we need to ask what perpetuated this increase and what ideas
are at the center?
It is known that many religious workers, both Arab and others who brought the idea of
militant Wahhabism have been trained in Saudi Arabia under the supervision of security
services.
In the report by the Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress “The
Sociology And Psychology Of Terrorism: Who Becomes A Terrorist And Why?” it says that
terror characterized as fanaticism-with an extremely narrowed perception of reality and the
rejection of those who differ from "only true" views, or earnest faith. Religious fanaticism is
based on absolute faith in the fact that after the murder of "infidels," the murderer goes to
heaven. It is inspired in childhood in the family and at school, and in mosques in the minds of
believers. Therefore, female suicide bombers go for murder and certain death with pleasure.
Religious fanatics are brought up in a world with the division of ‘we’ (clan, nation, faith) and
others. By “we” they highlight the side of good, light and purity, by “others” the side of evil,

                                                                                                               
7 ibid.

 
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darkness and immorality.8 For fanatics their upcoming death is not a death, but a momentary
pain that they need to overcome before gaining eternal life in heaven. They parted from their
friends, but someday in heaven Shaheeds will meet them. In paradise for 14-18 year old
Muslim youth, it is promised they will have 72 beautiful houris (eternal virgins in Islam). 9
"Terrorist – is not a crazy person," say the psychiatrists, as the organizers of terrorist
acts can not trust such a task to a mad person who can do things like, “ To go to place, where
he/she shouldn’t go, to speak things that shouldn’t be spoken, to click the button when it
shouldn’t be clicked." Therefore, before sending jihadists to die, organizers need to be sure
that they chose absolutely normal people. So, where is it possible to find such absolutely
normal recruits, who can go for such organized action? Such recruitment centers are mosques,
kindergartens, schools, and universities.
Every believer is responsible for determining their relationship to God and not to
impose it on others. There is a huge variety of different kinds of intermediate forms and types
of religious faith; we see religious pluralism within the same church. For example, the Church
of England combines elements of Catholicism and Protestantism. The Russian Orthodox
Church is concerned that the Russian envoys come from other churches as skilled preachers.
At the moment, we cannot speak of the unity of Christianity. Therefore it is clear that there is
great friction between the Christian and the Islamic world.
In the Islamic world Muslims do not like to offend others. After the American
intervention into Afghanistan, Washington has become unpopular among Muslims. The Iraq
war is also seen by many as an attempt to extend the desire of Washington on the
independence of the Muslim state, and the events in Iraq and Syria for the radical circles in
the Islamic world - are, first of all, the revolt of Muslims who want to live under their own
laws. The war in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria have forced Islamic youth living all over the
world, to realize that they belong to the Islamic world, to feel their oneness with all those who
confess Islam. And a new generation chooses radical Islam. Militant Islamists penetrate into
developed countries. The Muslim population does not usually integrate into societies, but live
separately, with its own laws. This is one of the world's largest religions, and is perceived by
the non-Muslim world with suspicion and fear, because of the violent actions that take place
under the banner of Islam and in the name of Islam.
                                                                                                               
8 The Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, “The Sociology And Psychology Of Terrorism: Who Becomes
A Terrorist And Why?”, Washington DC: 1999, p. 22-43
9 Leonardo Blair (2015), Inside ISIS: Fighters Promised '72 Eternal Virgins in Heaven' While Christian Women Raped as
Husbands Beheaded, Says Ex-Member [Online], Available: http://www.christianpost.com/ [September 19, 2014]

 
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For example, when it became aware of the terrorist attacks in the United States, in
most Palestinian cities in the West Bank, there were demonstrations of the Arab youth. They
congratulated each other with the misfortune that befell Americans. Similar rallies were held
in the Palestinian camps in Lebanon. The Islamic world was decorated with portraits of bin
Laden and his twelve suicide bombers who are considered martyrs for the faith. Extremist
Islamists believe that they are deprived and suggest the adoption of Islam around the world,
and wrong in the world has no place.
Thomas Pogge in his book ‘Politics As Usual: What Lies Behind The Pro-Poor
Rhetoric’ has very challenging arguments about morality, and justification of terrorism. His
point was that some organizations do not have killing innocent civilians as their goal—for
example, the IRA, and ETA usually inform the public before bombing or other violent
actions. A similar approach can be found in bin Laden’s interview with ‘Daily Ummat’ dated
September 28, 2001. He said that Muslims do not consider killing innocent women and
children. It is one of the main taboos in Islam. It is possible to have war and so on, but Islam
restricts killing innocent children and women.10

Political reasons of terrorism

One more discussed condition by Pogge, which creates terrorism, is political situation
in the country. Political terrorism has multiple dimensions in domestic and international
terrorism. Political reasons occupy leading role in the determination of political terrorism, as
well as all political crime. There are still discussions in specification of political terrorism.
But, mostly scientists agree on the specification of political terrorism because of its reasons-
political reasons. There are usually two possibilities when the government support terrorism
against any special country or government, this issue was discussed in ‘Politics as Usual:
What Lies Behind pro-Poor Rhetoric’, author was giving justification to political terrorism by
giving examples of countries which have special regimes which support terrorism, they are
mostly Middle East countries like, Saudi Arabia prominently included, as well as, Israel
because of its Palestinian issues, and so on.
From above listed specifications, it is possible to get conditions, which can easily
work as catalyst reasons in creating basement for political terrorism:
1) Repressions by the ruling elite in the relation to the opposite political parties;
2) Forced non-traditional political and social innovations by the ruling elite of the society;

                                                                                                               
10 Thomas Pogge, 2010, “Politics as Usual: What Lies Behind the Pro-Poor Rhetoric”, Cambridge: Polity Press, 143
10 ibid. p. 143-45

 
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3) Clash of political interests of two countries in a region;

4) Deliberate incitement of ethnic hatred by individuals, groups, parties (for example, the
Wahhabi movement);
5) Aggression against another state and its occupation in most cases leads to armed resistance
civilians (partisans), using terrorist methods (explosions important objects, arson, etc.);
6) Encouragement of terrorism at the level of state policy, as do Libya, Iran, Iraq,
Afghanistan;
7) Dissatisfaction with the foreign governments, and therefore, commit terrorist acts against
its members and institutions.
The term ‘political terrorism’ (or ‘new terrorism’) came into use since 1986. However,
it took bigger attention after 11th of September 2001 attack. It was indicating Middle East
fight against immorality of Western states and it was aimed to widespread Islamic traditions
all over the world.11
Furthermore, during talking about political terrorism, it is not objective to discuss just
Middle East cases, because there are several happened terrors in Europe, as well. One earlier
happened case was during French revolution Jacobins was trying to keep power from fall of
1793 to the summer of 1794 and during this period there were lots of repressions, ruling elite
used to do violations against of civilians. There were going against of ‘enemies of the people’,
or citizens who had proven or suspected danger to society.12 From Robespierre’s view it was
‘the best for mutually built future and without it can be a future failure’. In this side it is very
close to Middle East terror reasons, or Pogge’s ‘greater goods’ explanation, and it explains
main approach of the political reasons of the terrorism, because it doesn’t always makes civil
people out of authority to search for better standards in their life by believing in some
ideology and going for that it also sometimes requires governments to do actions-terror
among population to create a reign where they can implement their policy.13
During Russian Revolution and Civil War political terror by government was very
close to Jacobins actions that had been done during French Revolution. Bolsheviks’ rule in
Russia after their victory was absolute and they were able to create totalitarian regime in the
country. Similarities in these issues also can be seen in views given by Pogge in his book
about Nazi regime in Germany.14 Both had absolute authority on their society. This type of
                                                                                                               
11 Rae Corelli,. “The Menacing Face of the New Terrorism.”, “MacLean’s” newspaper, April 28, 1986, v. 99, p. 24-5
12 Michael Philip Carter, 1989, “The French Revolution: ‘Jacobin Terror’”, in Rapoport and Alexander, eds. (1989), p. 142
13 Thomas Pogge, 2010, “Politics as Usual: What Lies Behind the Pro-Poor Rhetoric”, Cambridge: Polity Press, 143
14 ibid. p. 1-7

 
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legacy can be achieved most effectively with the same way, as Jacobins were able to do that:
violation and terror among civilians. In both cases that policy worked effectively because of
same social factor regime was choosing targets, which were stopping community from
achieving its ‘great future’, in USSR it was capitalists and rich people, in Nazi regime it was
list of nations and countries, who were against them. As H. Arendt had indicated in her work
authorities were choosing ‘potential threats’ and ‘objective opponents’. It was Political
Terror, one of the largest kinds of terrorism where totalitarian regimes were able to keep
population in threat, because totalitarian terror is an essential part of absolute authority.15
However, for such types of policy harvesting of victim had the name of security of state from
internal threats. Nevertheless, political terrorism is not always an essence of totalitarian
regimes. For example, some states used terror against their enemies during the war (when
RAF and USAAF were bombing German and Japan cities when it was Second World War).16

Conclusion: Analogy of Pogge’s arguments

Political action comic "V" for Vendetta (2006) was produced by the creators of The
Matrix by the Wachowski brothers and set in an alternate present. Germany wins World War
II, and the United Kingdom became a province of the Third Reich. The center of democracy
and freedom is still the United States, but they are overwhelmed by internal problems. The
UK Chancellor - the leader comparable to Hitler rules with unlimited powers. As it is often
the case (since antiquity policies) the charismatic tyrant came to power through democratic
elections.
After that, the British democracy gradually began to disappear: people do not trust TV
news, curfews, arrests of dissidents and sexual minorities, etc., and as usually happens in the
comics, there is a hero who is able to stand against the tyrant. The hero appears not only in the
criminal role, he also elaborates historical mask of Guy Fawkes, the hero of the Gunpowder
Plot - terrorists tried to blow up the English Parliament and the king on November 5, 1605, by
way of getting rid of the monarch James I and his family, making their sad fate one of the
UK’s national holidays.
It is surprising how in Anglo-Saxon countries - Britain and the United States - legends
about a lone hero, whether Robin Hood, Superman or Spider-Man, are capable of restoring
global justice. Here the state with its laws and institutions fades into the background, defer to
vigilante justice for which the good guys fight the bad. Bad guys are of course power-hungry
                                                                                                               
15 Hannah Arendt, 1958, “The Origins of Totalitarianism”, 2nd ed., Cleveland: The World Publishing Co.; 464, 438
16 Douglas Lackey, 2004, “The Evolution of the Modern Terrorist State: Area Bombing and Nuclear Deterrence”, in
Primoratz, ed. (2004), 128–38.

 
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politicians; good guys, as usual, are voters that want to correct their mistakes by direct
actions. Indeed, historically, geographically isolated states such as the US and the UK that do
not have borders with potentially dangerous rivals, can afford the luxury of a minimal state.
And in the light of the unique "island" political mentality state functions "more than the
minimum" automatically becomes in the eyes of the Anglo-Saxons in totalitarian.
This paradox is easily resolved, because the given absence of border enemy the British
and American historical experience didn’t feel danger, and it made their military core ‘soft’.
Hence the unconvincing attempts to show the authors of the film “totalitarian” English are
really gleaned mainly in the novels by Orwell. Starting from torture in solitary confinement,
which is subjected to the main character. (Later, it turns out that it was only a test for
resistance). Continuing experiments on people, drawn from the Nazi chronicles. Ending with
controlled power and television news media, which the British inhabitants somehow
"intuitively do not believe."
As part of its creed lone hero "V" key phrase says: "This country needs more than a
building right now. It needs hope." The main symbol appears dead British Parliament
building, which has long ceased to be the focus of national interest. Therefore, the main
character wants to blow up a dead-democracy, as announcing a year before the impending
explosion, extending into a live broadcast on national television.
Buildings turn into dead characters as alive only something for which people are
willing to die. That is, the ideals that people carry inside, sometimes forgetting, sometimes
betraying them, sometimes rediscovering again. Of course, people in unison decide to go to
"X hour" on the street, remembering the glorious democratic traditions. People are once again
ready to die for the hope that is for "a different future." As a result, the army sided with the
people. The tyrant has fallen. Will it be the restored democracy or the start of anarchy? This
problem remains behind the scenes. Nevertheless, the right of the people to overthrow the
paradigmatic tyrant realized at the end of the film in all its glory modern of special effects.
The final moral of the film: a single-terrorist blowing up Parliament can also be right.
Especially if based on the tacit approval of the people, unlike democratically elected tyrants.
The prototype of the tyrant-Chancellor, which based on the comic book by Alan Moore was
Margaret Thatcher. This is the British Association of totalitarianism.
The final film looks dissident and heretical, if we consider it as an allegorical narrative
of contemporary Western reality. After the explosion of Big Ben and the Houses of
Parliament, the "revive" of the English democracy in the end, evoke direct associations with
the explosion of the New York Twin Towers. We can only hope that the radicals and

 
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extremists do not perceive the film as a guide for actions. Indeed, in political practice - how
many parties, so many ideas of democracy.
Unenforceable objectives and a clear lack of opportunities of extremists in declared
goals, leads to glorification and justification of violence. From a psychological point
exclusion of extremists from society requires compensation in the form of "exclusivity"
professed by political doctrine, intolerance to "other", the ultimate and de facto impossible
nature of political demands. According to psychologists it is a typical strategy of provoking
children's behavior toward adults. Power, grown out of violence, afterward is based on his
expulsion and attempts to avoid this unacceptable alternative. Therefore, the need for the state
to resort to violations discredits the authorities: "Provocation is a challenge to the ruler,
requiring it to display or even realization of their alternatives to avoid that leads to the
destruction of his power by himself."17 Therefore, the reaction of the state in the form of
tougher laws and enforcement is a direct success of extremists, as will inevitably lead to a
negative reaction in the media and all relevant social and political forces, which in turn one
way or another are subject to the data that are classified as extremist.
It seems that the struggle of government against extremism, its prevention, and
legislative regulation inevitably gives rise to extremism, as well as the fight against entropy
contributes to its increase. Contrary to the claims of politicians and officials, some
phenomena such as terrorism, do not lend themselves to regulation, it is only an illusion,
designed for ordinary people - complete safety cannot be anywhere else, never for anyone.
Therefore, some improbable danger can only overlook and ignore. Being a victim of political
extremism may be 100 times smaller than being the victim of a car accident or a crime of
domestic violence. However, on this basis, for some reason, in society is not observed as
active social movements and publications, calling for a ban on cars, airplanes or kitchen
knives. Despite the smallness of its statistics of real victims, the situation with extremism is
reversed, and cultural interest in that is incommensurate with the real danger.
Wide popularization of combating extremism does not add to it the effectiveness;
neither do pervasive calls from politicians to citizens to monitor suspicious people and things.
This only creates massive stress: "In America, there were 4 hijacking on September 11th.
However, in the first half 70s in Europe, Asia and the United States the average number of

                                                                                                               
17 Niklas Luhmann, 1979, “Trust ; And, Power: Two Works”, Wiley, ch. 2

 
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13  

incidents to capture the aircraft was 15-18 on a quarterly basis. In such scales there would be
a great hysteria today!". 18
Any reference to an advertisement of "dark side of things," and certain populist
government initiatives for fresh events or massive media coverage only act as detonators and
adverse events repeatedly increase crime, where, for example, the offender and the victim
happened to be members of different ethnic groups or religions. It seems that getting
extremism within the scope of priorities official media due to the use of this theme to achieve
additional goals related to the legitimization of power or sanitation of public opinion
favorable to the real problems of the political regime, which usually nationalists name as
xenophobes and racists and hooligans and football fans, hastily classified as skinheads.
The problem is that the government cannot effectively deal with those who are willing
to die in the name of some extremist positions with official purposes. And people are ready to
die for the new goals for change, for hope, for "a different future" can not be prevented or re-
educated as they are beyond the bound of reason and morality laws that operate in
contemporary societies, considering the position of humanism, human life is of the highest
value. One thing is clear: When people are willing to give their lives for their beliefs, all the
axioms of our time cease to operate, in spite of all the total civil and state "vigilance" they do
what they intend to do. So, for those who act on behalf of the state this position looks
advantageous and convincing. Therefore, the terrorists as violators take on truly diabolical
efficiency in current society in comparison with their opponents, who are handcuffed by
humanistic morality, courts, laws, etc.
But it is not so simple, because the prefix "counter" to the fighters with terrorists does not
give them the moral right to automatically be higher if they have the same or even more
sophisticated methods. Extremist media as "weak people’s weapons" actually neutralize any
justifications of the extremist political entity, whether it is the fight against inhuman political
regime, the colonial liberation, protest against the military presence or the creation of a
national state. Therefore, counter-extremism, no matter what good intentions, also is an
absolute evil. States response to terror is not a cure for extremism; it leads only to an
extension of evil. History shows that extremism cannot be destroyed by similar means.
Obviously, the alternative to terror can only be completely different. Vengeance cannot be on
the same moral level as the law.

                                                                                                               
18 Vladislav Inozemtsev (2015), “Why Russia – not Iraq?” [Online], Available: http://viperson.ru/ [September, 2007]

 
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Books
1. Thomas Pogge, 2010, “Politics as Usual: What Lies Behind the Pro-Poor Rhetoric”,
Cambridge: Polity Press
2. Kai Nielsen, 1981, “Violence and Terrorism: Its Uses and Abuses”, in Leiser, Burton
M., ed., Values in Conflict, New York: Macmillan
3. Nicholas Fotion, 1981, “The Burdens of Terrorism”, in Leiser, Burton M., ed., Values
in Conflict, New York: Macmillan
4. Michael Philip Carter, 1989, “The French Revolution: ‘Jacobin Terror’”, in Rapoport
and Alexander, eds. (1989)
5. Hannah Arendt, 1958, “The Origins of Totalitarianism”, 2nd ed., Cleveland: The
World Publishing Co.
6. Douglas Lackey, 2004, “The Evolution of the Modern Terrorist State: Area Bombing
and Nuclear Deterrence”, in Primoratz, ed. (2004)
7. Niklas Luhmann, 1979, “Trust, and Power: Two Works”, Wiley, ch. 2
Articles, Reports, and other Internet resources
1. Igor Primoratz (2015), "Terrorism", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
(Summer 2013 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.) [Online], Available:
http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2013/entries/terrorism/
2. Rae Corelli, “The Menacing Face of the New Terrorism.” “MacLean’s” newspaper,
April 28, 1986
3. Leonardo Blair (2015), Inside ISIS: Fighters Promised '72 Eternal Virgins in Heaven'
While Christian Women Raped as Husbands Beheaded, Says Ex-Member [Online],
Available:
http://www.christianpost.com/news/inside-isis-fighters-promised-72-eternal-virgins-
in-heaven-while-christian-women-raped-as-husbands-beheaded-says-ex-member-
126710/ [September 19, 2014]
4. The Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, “The Sociology And
Psychology Of Terrorism: Who Becomes A Terrorist And Why?” Washington DC:
1999
5. Vladislav Inozemtsev (2015), “Why Russia – not Iraq?” [Online], Available:
http://viperson.ru/wind.php?ID=376760/ [September, 2007]

 
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6. Terrorism. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged. Retrieved January 31, 2015, from

Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/terrorism

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