Causes of Terrorism: The Case of Northern Ireland.

Since September 11, the United States has placed increasing emphasis on eradicating terrorism world-wide. Simultaneously, the world has witnessed increased attention to the effects of terrorism. This paper seeks to explore causes of terrorism by exploring the case of terrorism in Northern Ireland. Since the division of the island in 1919, Northern Ireland has endured a precarious relationship with the British. Much of the population at that time favored independence from Britain. The Irish Republican Army became a militant manifestation of the desire for independence. We examine the genesis and growth of terrorism in Northern Ireland. We pay particular attention to human rights abuses broadly defined to include subsistence, security and civil and political rights. We explore the extent to which these abuses contribute to the formation and growth of terrorists within Northern Ireland. Limits on the civil and political rights of the Catholic minority in Northern Ireland played a significant role in the genesis of terrorism. More importantly, British abuses of security rights increased the number of Irish citizens who support and participate in terrorist activity. We find the relationship between human rights and terrorism to be a strong one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]