Processes of Radicalization and Development of Terrorist Activity

Year 2022, Issue: 15, 35 - 55, 13.07.2022

Petar Marinov

Abstract

Terrorism as a phenomenon has a complex structure in which
ideological, social, religious, ethnic, psychological and other elements are
intertwined. Modern terrorism is a complex and dynamic phenomenon that
successfully adapts to the political and economic situation. In its modern
manifestations, terrorism increasingly relies on synergy between different
influences and approaches. This allows for the impact, the effect of which
significantly exceeds the mechanical sum of the effects of the individual
forms and approaches. The main component and motivational tool of
terrorism is the process of radicalization. Despite the lack of consensus on
the understanding of the phenomenon of radicalization, this phenomenon
is imposed as a consequence and result of increasingly complex social
processes in modern and postmodern societies. Effective counteraction is
beyond the power of any independent specialized institution or individual
country. Understanding of the concept of terrorism is linked to the analysis
of the common features of modern terrorism. Based on the content of
ideology and motivation, as well as the specifics of the methods of action,
there are differences between terrorism based on left and right ideologies,
on nationalism and separatism, and with different religious motivations.

Keywords

terrorism, counter terrorism, radicalization