Is Gurr's Relative Deprivation As A Direct Cause Of Terrorism

The Central Intelligence Agency defines that terrorism means premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents. In the same definition, international terrorism refers to terrorism involving the territory or the citizens of more than one country (CIA). The Federal Bureau of Investigations explains that, "terrorism involves in violent acts or acts dangerous to human life that violate federal or state law (FBI). There are many ways to define terrorism and terrorist. In addition, there are some elements that helps to increase terrorist activities, i.e. religion, political grievances, discrimination, and economic reasons. In recent days, terrorism has seen as much bigger problem in civilian's safety and security, because of increasing anti-American …show more content…
Many of these terrorist groups started locally, but they have expanded their impact in international level. Their objectives are different because of their root, which includes socio-economic situation, culture, and political system. "Gurr contends that objective poverty is not a direct cause of terrorism, though it can contribute indirectly to the outbreak of terrorism in many ways. He argues quite convincingly that inequalities, or relative deprivation, are more important than poverty as a source of terrorism (Richardson: 3)." Gurr's relative deprivation theory plays important role in terrorism and conflict because many terrorist motivations begin with frustration—aggression theory that based on the stimulus response hypothesis. Aggression is a part of human nature that has established through different evolutionary forces. Human aggression may rise while they obtaining their needs for survival, such as food, and shelter. Gurr states that" the primary sources of the human capacity for violence appears to be the frustration-aggression