Differences between terrorists and guerillas essays

Differences between terrorists and guerillas essays In what ways do the methods of guerrillas differ from those of terrorists? Many different writers have devised their own meaning for terrorism. It is a definition which cannot be finalised, as there are so many factors constituting what a terrorist and what terrorism actually is. Likewise is the term guerrilla. Often terrorists and guerrillas are referred to in the same light. Indeed it is true that there are striking similarities in the methods of both terrorists and guerrillas. However there are also some fundamental differences between the two, which I will look at further in my essay. Critics offer many different variations on the meaning of terrorism. Jenkins describes it like this: Terrorism is violence for effect. The victim may be totally unrelated to the terrorists cause. Fear is the intended effect, not the by-product of terrorism. Jenkins is saying that the effect of a terrorist act is to instil fear in the civilian population. Terrorists throughout the years have used different methods in order to instil fear; assassinations, bombs and murder to name a few. Although fear may be an effect of terrorism, terrorists have varying aims. Often they have political motives. Thornton describes terrorism as: A symbolic act designed to influence political behaviour by extra normal means, entailing the use of or threat of violence. An example is perhaps the PIRA in N.Ireland. They use terrorism as a method to make political gains, with an eventual aim of a united Ireland. However some terrorists also have aims of personal gain, and others simply criminal motives. Therefore we can conclude that terrorists normally have a political agenda, although often they fight for other reasons. They use a wide variety of methods in order to achieve what they want, and the effect of these methods is a feeling of terror from the civilian population or a specific group in society. &qu...