Terrorism and the new international environment
Abstract
This thesis examines the characteristics of terrorism in the new international environment following the Cold War in which international terrorism is undergoing drastic changes in its sources and characteristics; The breakdown of the bipolar system and concomitant diffusion of political power have given way to rivalry between regional states; especially, one of the key factors is the effect of weapons proliferation on the dynamics of conflict between regional rivals including nuclear, biological, and chemical-weapons capability. The world is also confronting an assortment of prodemocracy and anti-colonial movements which tend to erupt in civil disorder. The above ingredients are currently fomenting the new environment for terrorism; This thesis first looks at the nature of terrorism and examines the background to the issue; it then assesses how the international environments characterizes the new trend of terrorism that necessitates international cooperation to cope with it.