Terrorism and the Left and Right Wings

Terrorism, Left and Right Wings
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Abstract
Terrorism is like a catalyst that instills several other issues incorporating militancy, religious fanaticism, and numerous other problems. Undue coercion has become an imminent problem in the normal functioning of many world countries. Despite taking minute measures to curb this issue, this is increasing rapidly. America is one of the most developed but still deadly affected countries of the world. Hundreds of cases are being reported daily in the country concerning local coercion issues. Countries like America spend millions of dollars in place of the safety and defense of the country, but all such measures have not been proven sufficient. The need of the hour is to handle this problem at the earliest level so that the normal functioning of the state may be possible. This paper will address the essential factors of terrorism with a focus on domestic fights, rightists, leftists, and the current terrorism-concerned trends in America.
Terrorism, Left and Right Wings
1 Introduction
Terrorism has been increasing extensively in the world. The growth prospects of terrorism are damaging the normal functioning of all the major and minor sectors worldwide. To curb this evil, several small and large terrorist control organizations are working, but still, a lot needs to be done. Many countries have developed specialized departments and agencies to control terrorism. Despite taking vigilant measures, nothing has been proven sufficient in this regard.
The USA, one of the most world’s developed countries, is also facing acute issues due to terrorism. Terrorism in the USA has also been instigating religious extremists, anarchists, and several national and international terrorist groups (Perliger, 2020). The country has been facing severe potential threats from different terrorist activities even during and after COVID-19, especially during the presidential election campaigns in 2020.
This assessment will focus on the context of domestic terrorism, left and right wings in the USA. There will be an analysis of the current trends in domestic terrorism and specific concerns of terrorists in the USA.
2 Discussion and Analysis
1 Domestic terrorism in the USA
Domestic terrorism refers to acts of violence or threats of violence committed by individuals or groups within a country, as opposed to international terrorism, which individuals or groups commit from outside a country. The primary goal of national menace is to subdue a typical person or government. It can also take many forms, including bombings, assassinations, kidnappings, and cyber-attacks.
One of the critical characteristics of state violence is that it is often motivated by ideological, religious, or political beliefs. For example, domestic terrorist groups may be motivated by a desire to overthrow the government, promote a specific ideology or religious belief, or advance a particular political agenda (Gaibulloev & Sandler, 2018). These groups often target symbols of the government, such as federal buildings or monuments, as well as individuals who are seen as representing the government, such as politicians or law enforcement officials.
2.1.1 Extent of Domestic Terrorism in the USA
The United States has a comprehensive yet devastating connection with domestic terrorism, dating back to the 19th century. Some of the US’s most well-known state terror groups include the Ku Klux Klan, which was active in the later years of the previous century. The group targeted African Americans and other minority groups. Moreover, the Weather Underground, a left-wing group active in the 1970s, carried out bombings and other acts of violence to protest the Vietnam War. A recent national terrorism act may include the animal rights and environmental movement, which has been responsible for several bombings and other violent acts to protect animals and the environment.
Recently, there have been incidents of domestic terrorism committed by individuals or groups who espoused white supremacist beliefs, anti-government sentiment, and other far-right ideologies. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has identified domestic terrorism as one of the top national security threats facing the United States (Taylor, 2019). The FBI has created a particular unit dedicated to investigating and preventing domestic terrorism and works closely with other federal, state, and local law enforcement departments to trace and track potential domestic terrorist threats.
2 Right-Wing Domestic Terrorism in the USA
The acts of violence and threats furthered by people in the United States that are urged by far-right ideologies are called right-wing domestic terrorism activities. There can be several reasons behind this terrorism, including white supremacy, anti-government sentiment, and fanaticism. These individuals or groups often target minority groups, immigrants, government institutions and officials, and those who do not comply with their ideologies.
White supremacist groups, like neo-Nazi organizations, have an active presence in domestic acts of coercion in America. At the local level, numerous terrifying acts and threats were reported against them during COVID-19. Their main targets are African Americans, Jews, and other minority groups whom they think are against their ideological beliefs. They often use hate speech and propaganda to spread their ideological beliefs and recruit new members from among the ordinary people.
Anti-government extremists, such as the militia movement, also pose a significant threat to domestic fights in America. These groups often oppose the federal government and its institutions and may advocate for the overthrow of the government or the implementation of extreme anti-government ideologies (Stevenson, 2019). They have been linked to several explosions and other violent actions, including the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995 and the standoff at the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, in 1993.
2.2.1 Extent of Right-Wing Terrorism in the USA
It is pertinent to mention that right-wing domestic militancy is not linked with single or two groups but with several groups. It can also include those who espouse anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, xenophobia, and other forms of hate. They often use social media and other online platforms to popularize their agendas, connect with like-minded individuals, and plan and carry out attacks. The law-making agencies often consider it is challenging to identify the real culprits behind the terrorist attacks in the country because the attackers are among ordinary people. The difficulty in identifying attackers increases the extent of terrorism activities in the USA.
3 Left-Wing Domestic Terrorism in the USA
Left-wing domestic terrorism is associated with brutal actions furthered by people who feel alienated from the policies of the established rules and religious beliefs. These people often go against society’s functioning norms and culture to socialize their ideological tendencies.
Figure SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 1: Number of Terrorist Attacks in the USA 1994-2019
(Csis, 2023)
Keeping in view the actual tendencies of the left-wing terrorist...