The changing perspective of the United Nations on terrorism and its role in countering terrorism with specific reference to the post-9/11 period

Abstract

The study firstly focuses on identifying factors which caused the United Nations to change its perspective on terrorism. The study furthermore aims at determining the main characteristics of the United Nations’ changed view by investigating the manner in which the United Nations treated the subject of terrorism since it first appeared on its agenda. Thirdly, the objective of the study is to explore the evolvement of the counter-terrorism policy of the United Nations, with specific reference to the post-9/11 period up to 2008. The study focuses on changes in the international security environment since the end of the Cold War and on changes in terrorism since the mid-1980s in terms of motivation, characteristics and application of terrorism as a strategy of political violence. In addition, the study describes the development and functioning of the institutions of the United Nations which are most relevant to its counter-terrorism program and the counter-terrorism actions taken by these institutions. This is done by analysing the resolutions adopted by the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council relevant to terrorism, the international conventions against terrorism, as well as other important policy documents. The study illustrates how the United Nations has changed its perspective on terrorism and identifies the most important factors leading to this changed perspective of the United Nations as a global organisation involved in peace and security issues.