Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface to the second edition
- Preface to the first edition
- Part One An introduction to political terrorism
- Part Two Some selected problems in the response to terrorism
- 8 Counter-terrorist policies: fundamental choices
- 9 Terrorism and the media: a symbiotic relationship?
- 10 The role of the army in counter-terrorist operations
- 11 The legal regulation of terrorism: international and national measures
- 12 Counter-measures against terrorism: the intelligence function
- 13 Terrorist hostage-takings
- 14 Counter-measures against terrorism: the role of behavioural science research
- 15 State involvement in international terrorism
- 16 The future of political terrorism
- Notes
- Select bibliography
- Index
11 - The legal regulation of terrorism: international and national measures
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 January 2012
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface to the second edition
- Preface to the first edition
- Part One An introduction to political terrorism
- Part Two Some selected problems in the response to terrorism
- 8 Counter-terrorist policies: fundamental choices
- 9 Terrorism and the media: a symbiotic relationship?
- 10 The role of the army in counter-terrorist operations
- 11 The legal regulation of terrorism: international and national measures
- 12 Counter-measures against terrorism: the intelligence function
- 13 Terrorist hostage-takings
- 14 Counter-measures against terrorism: the role of behavioural science research
- 15 State involvement in international terrorism
- 16 The future of political terrorism
- Notes
- Select bibliography
- Index
Summary
It has been argued in earlier chapters that contemporary terrorism is, increasingly, an international as well as a domestic phenomenon. Because of the delicate nature of international relations, attempts to control terrorism at a global level will always tend to focus on legal and treaty obligations rather than action-oriented measures. The diplomatic and political implications of, for example, an international anti-terrorist strike force are such that suggestions of this kind are never likely to be translated into reality. Rather, the only suggestion that has any hope of gaining acceptance is one which places treaty obligations on nations to act in a prescribed way in a certain situation (for example, agree to bring to trial any captured terrorists, or agree to extradite them to the country of origin). And as will be shown, even this avenue is fraught with such dangers as to seriously jeopardise its eventual success.
As discussed earlier one of the central problems bedevilling international cooperation is the definition of terrorism. Because treaties are couched in legal terms they rely heavily on definitions acceptable to all parties. Since the issue of what constitutes terrorism is one of the most important unsolved problems in debates about terrorism, the attempts to arrive at a definition for international treaty purposes epitomise the confusion and dissent which surrounds the whole subject.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Political TerrorismTheory, Tactics and Counter-Measures, pp. 103 - 130Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1989