ABSTRACT
One of the major reasons why terrorism has become so ubiquitous in the contemporary international system is that it has proven a low-cost, lowrisk, potentially high-yield method of struggle for all kinds of groups and regimes. And there is no sign that the ending of the Cold War has eradicated the underlying ethnic, religio-political, ideological and strategic causes of conflicts which spawn terrorism. I
On the other hand, twentieth century history shows 'terrorism is a faulty weapon that often misfires'.2 It very rarely succeeds in delivering strategic goals, such as the overthrow of governments and their replacement by the terrorists . Wanton murder and destruction - for that is how indiscriminate bombings in city streets will be perceived by the general population - may have the effects of uniting and hardening a community against the terrorists, of triggering a violent backlash by rival groups, or of stinging the authorities into more effective security measures in the ensuing period of public revulsion.
