Question

Discuss the similarities of and differences between terrorist groups and organized crime.

Answer 1

• The distinguishing elements are the ideological basis underlying the conductof their activities as well as the aims which their members seek to achieve. The aims of terrorist organisations are of a political,ideological or religious nature. For them money plays an indirect role, it is not an end in itself but a necessity to serve the higher purpose. Organised crime groups carry out their activities exclusively in order to achieve financial gain.
• Despite these distinct aims,which differ between the organised criminal group and the terrorist organisation, the two categories employ acts of violenceand terror, causing a sense of anxiety amongst individuals or social groups. There are also areas which give rise to their mutualco-operation, and the trend for there to be contact between the two forms of group crime is noticeable all over the world. Both types of organisations gain mutual benefit from their experience, and organised crime may also be one way of raising funds for terrorist activities.
• Terrorism and organised crime, both two different forms of criminal activity and an equal threat to human security.
• Organized crime is generally focused mainly on economic profit, acquiring material benefits and obtaining as much of an illegal market share as possible, by the use of serious crimes such as Drug trafficking, fraud, violence etc.
• Whilst terrorism motivated chiefly by ideological aims and by a desire for political change, by the use of violence, in the form of hijacking, bombing and other indistrimintory acts.
• Both Organized crime and Terrorism differ in motivation and objective. Terrorists are in essentially political groups; even if they are inspired by religious fundamentalism, their behaviour is designed to bring about political change.While organized crime groups conduct profit-driven criminal activities, through the use illicit and illegal means.
• Terrorist groups usually seek media attention; organized crime groups do not," Criminal organisation, do not directly attack infastrurer or indiscriminately attack normal citizens, like terrorism does, however there doing's bring harm to those involved and create fear amongst people surrounded by there illegal activities. Therefore the magnitude of attack will be confined to small, domestic and under the radar attacks, whilst with terrorism when it blows ups, it is instant and devastating in its impact.
• Both types of criminals function in secrecy, in the underworld, and they use the same or similar infrastructures for their activities and the same networks of corruption. Both use the same type of tactics: they engage in cross-border smuggling, money laundering, counterfeiting, kidnapping, extortion and various kinds of violence.
• Narco-Terrorism,was the first identification of the link between Terrorism and organized crime. This discovery began in the 1980s when it was found that drug trafficking was also used to advance the political objectives of certain governments and terrorist organizations, the attempts of narcotics traffickers to influence the policies of government by the systematic threat or use of violence.
• Terrorist use criminal organisation methods to raise funds for their activities as very dangerous. This reliance between each other makes it difficult and a bigger domestic and international security threat because they can share their tangible and intangible resources, to achieve their objectives.