ABSTRACT
While the popular image of terrorism today is that of a religiously motivated suicide bomber, much of the violence that actually occurs in the world is based in disagreements and dissidence in ethnic and national communities. Ethnic and nationalist violence was one of the basic causes for increased levels of terrorism in the world in recent years (Chalk 1999 : 152). Ethnic confrontations have become more numerous as groups have sought autonomy or independence or the right to attach themselves to some other country. In multicultural societies where ethnic populations intermingle, communal violence has become more common with opposing groups defi ning themselves ethnically or racially. Ethnic confl icts have the additional characteristic of being quite persistent and lasting for long periods of time (Tan 2000: 268).
