Abstract:   The term terrorism, its definition, its subject matter and its scope is the greatest challenge to Social Science. Our study is focused in sociological, legal and international perspective. So far there has been no universally acceptable definition. Therefore there is confusion as to who are the terrorist Terrorists attempt to gain attention of the media, the public and the decision makers of modern states, be they individuals or organizations. They use violent means to achieve their objectives. They must be differentiated from the idealists who regard themselves as dedicated patriots or as the defender of the people's rights or religious instructions. Terrorism must also be differentiated from the acts of violence undertaken by the colonized people to advance the cause of independence of their country from their colonial powers. We have drawn examples from the PLO, the Hammas, and the Kashmiri Resistance Movement, the struggle of the Iraqi and Afghani people to substantiate our arguments. We have also discussed some theories that cause or motivate terrorists to undertake violent activities. In the end we have also thrown some lights on the state sponsored terrorism.

Keywords:   sociological, international perspective, religious instructions, sponsored terrorism

Publisher:   ILMA UNIVERSITY

Published:   25 May 2007

Issue:   Issue 1 : Volume 3

E-ISSN:   2409-6520

P-ISSN:   2414-8393