Original scientific paper

STATE TERRORISM AND COUNTER-TERRORISM

Igor Primorac ; Department of Philosophy, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

Abstract

Unlike the debates on terrorism in everyday discourse and the media that, as a rule, imply that terrorism is an activity of non-state groups and organizations, the author defines “terrorism” by means of its acts’ nature and goals and not by its perpetrators; hence, state terrorism. The author outlines a typology of the state’s involvement in terrorism and highlights the question of terrorism’s moral status. His assumption is that any act of terrorism is an ultimate moral evil, but that state terrorism is a greater evil than terrorism as practised by non-state actors. The author offers four arguments to corroborate this view. The last paragraph of this article speaks about counter-terrorism and, finally, about the “war on terrorism” waged today by the United States of America and its allies.

Keywords

state; terrorism; USA; anti-terrorism; state terrorism

Hrčak ID:

23675

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/23675

Publication date:

5.3.2003.

Article data in other languages: croatian

Visits: 5.051 *