The role of the United Nations in fighting terrorism. (c2008)

Abstract

Terrorism is an ancient method of exploiting fear by targeting a civilian population in order to advance a political agenda. The last few years however, and specifically after the September 11 incidents, terrorism has become a priority issue internationally. This research therefore asks: How does the United Nations support international efforts to combat terrorism? This research attempts to illustrate that the United Nations has assumed - and is capable of assuming a more prominent leading role in the international campaign against terrorism. In addition, the United Nations takes one step further by acting as the driving force of counter terrorist reforms at the national level. This research takes the case of Lebanon to illustrate the relationship between states and the United Nations in the realm of fighting terrorism. This said, this research is well aware of the shortcomings and challenges the United Nations faces. This research does not claim that the United Nations is a miracle maker; the United Nations is after all a representation of the international system. Nevertheless the findings of this thesis demonstrate that action outside the framework of the United Nations endangers the stability of the international system as well as limits the ability of states to jointly address international terrorism.