Islam is a religion of peace,but radicals have changed its preaching. Can one considered jihad as a just war? Since its inscribed in the Holy Koran.As such,this presentation give some of the reasons why a certain groups (mostly Muslims) have developed new ideologies.

1. Muslim Ideologies :Terrorism AND Insurgency
Saron M. Obia
Pan African Institute for Development
West Africa
PAID-WA Buea, Cameroon

2. Outline
 What is the meaning of ideology?
 What is terrorism?
 How were these ideologies developed?
 What are the types of terrorism involved?
 Why do they engage in terrorism?
 What is an insurgency?
 What are the difference between terrorism and insurgency?
 Are these ideologies just or unjust?
 Recommendations

3. What is the meaning of ideology?
The word ideology has been conceptualize in different scientific studies. In international security (international
conflicts), the term has been restructured, as well as in Geo-Science (That is geopolitics and geostrategy).
The term ideology is used to shape the radicalization of certain Muslims or unorthodox Muslims. According to the
Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, ideology is a set of beliefs or principles, especially one on which a
political system, party or organization is based. We now take the situation in Africa and Western world, where there is
increasing violence (the use f extreme force to achieve one’s goal).The ideologies developed by radical Muslims are;
-Terrorism and
-Insurgency
For proper understanding, we must know who is a Muslim. A Muslim is a person who follows the religion of Islam as
provided by prophet Mohammed, the founder of Islam as inscripted in the Holy Koran.
CAMBRIDGE ADVANCED LEARNER’S DICTIONARY,CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS

4. What is terrorism?
The use positive terminology to describe groups or individuals as freedom fighters, revolutionaries and liberators,
have given a different meaning to terrorism. Which adapts to the famous slogan “one man’s terrorist is another man’s
freedom fighter”. Examples are Hezbollah, Boko-Haram and Castro, who stood to this slogan.
The problem with terrorism, is how to be defined and how is perceived by others. As such, some discussions relay on
who does it and for what purpose. That is;
 Some focus on terrorist acts or tactics to define the term
 The actors or the context whether military or not
 The characteristics of terrorism as concerns international security.
One of the definitions that has stood to the taste of times is that of Berto Jongman and Alex Schmidt in 1988.That
terrorism is the use of violence, the techniques used, the nature about the use of fear, the level of organization and
ideology. The discussion will be centered on two main types of terrorism, organized terrorism and cyber terrorism,
following its evolution in international conflicts.

5. How were these ideologies developed?
The ideology (terrorism) originated as a state action, with the French revolution state reign of terror in political
affairs. The term terrorism which appeared both in English and French usage in the 18 century was associated with
any use of violence to achieve a political goal. The American and French revolutions unleashed the idea that people
could overthrow dictatorial rules. The concept appeared in the Arab convention for the suppression of terrorism of
1998 in Egypt, with a clear definition with precise components.
In Arab world there is a challenge in authorities between the religious and state leader. In Iran 1973 the spiritual
leader kick out the state leader, because the spiritual leader has the final decision. Also, Al- Qaeda (organizational
structure 1988-2001), Talibans, ISIS and ISIL, the rise of youths like the Arab spring in Tunisia.
In Nigeria 2009, Boko-Haram started getting youths support and economic assistance through kidnapping of
foreigners and nationals in Cameroon and Nigeria. Though the focus has been on Boko-Haram, several radical groups
like Al Shabab,M23 and Seleka rebels exist. One of their main objective is the fight against social and economic
injustice, but Boko-Haram believes that democracy is for anti-Muslims (Western Education is a sin).
Malcolm W. Nance (2013), Terrorist Recognition Handbook, A Practitioner’s Manual for Predicting and Identifying Terrorist Activities, Third Edition

6. What are the types of terrorism involved?
We could say that, this is the age of terrorism, as major security challenge of the post cold war era. There are many
types of terrorism as conceived by researchers. The Cameroon community of political sciences evoked four main
types of terrorism; individual terrorism, organized terrorism, state terrorism and cyberterrorism. But the discussion
will be base on two, as follows;
 Organized terrorism (example Al Qaeda and Bok-Haram)
 Cyber terrorism (examples of cyberterrorist activities on the web; Irhabi 007, Al-Jinan, Inhiyar Al-Dolar, 'Abu
Syf3r' Defaces Internet Haganah and Q8Army)
The above has also been related radical ideologies of spiritual leaders like Imam Samudra (Sentenced to death for
2002 Bali bombings) and Imam Abubakar Shekau. If the main objective is to establish caliphates, why then use
violence. But the problem has always been whether terrorism can be just. As such, discussions have centered on two
cases; If these ideologies are for religious issues or for political issues.
David Altheide in Terrorism and the Politics of Fear
Dorothy E. Denning in The Jihadi Cyber terror Threat
E. Alshech, Cyberspace as a Combat Zone: The Phenemenon of Electronic Jihad, MEMRI, No. 329, Feb. 27, 2007
http://haganah.org.il/haganah/

7. Why do they engage in terrorism?
Trotsky once said “ Maybe the war does not interest you but war is interested in you”. They are many reasons evoked
by radical individuals or groups engaged in the new world system. Some of these arguments are as follows;
 They are resisting against political oppression in and out of their countries.
 The political situation in Israel-Palestine and Iraq following the U.S intervention but also the proliferation of
foreign interventions in Syria and Libya
 Arab youths against international system example Otto man empire
 Against repression; Arab spring and against H. Mubarack
 Against Israel; alliance with the Anglo- Americans and insecurity of the Sunnites
 Websites that harm or are offensive to Islam are been defaced example defacement of Danish websites (caricature
of Mohammed) and attack against Vatican Website
Dorothy E. Denning in The Jihadi Cyber terror Threat
http://www.zone-h.org/en/defacements/mirror/id=3281674/

8. What is an insurgency?
According to the 1970 writer, Richard H. Sanger the modern era has experienced seven great waves of insurgencies
from the English Revolution of 1648-88 to the cyclone of violence that swept the Third World after World War II.
Insurgency refers to the use of low-level, protracted violence to overthrow a political system or force some sort of
fundamental change in the political and economic status quo with a certain level of persistence. After all, it has been
one of the most pervasive types of conflict throughout history and todays epidemic.
Throughout this discussion, we are encouraged to think critically and analytically about the complex causes of many
contemporary issues and problems based on the radicalization of some Muslims. International conflicts is faced with
two ideologies; that of terrorism and insurgency. The contemporary focus, is which of the current team belongs to an
insurgency or terrorist organization. In security presentation, Saron argued that; ISIS, Al Shabab, Talibans and Anti
Balaka are insurgencies, while Al Queada, Boko-Haram and Hezbollah could be considered terrorist organizations.
Though the have been some contradiction to this statement, based on the recent development of geopolitics.
Richard H. Sanger (1970), Insurgent Era: New Patterns of Political, Economic, and Social Revolution, revised edition, Washington: Potomac Books, 1970, pp. 2-4.
Raj Desai and Harry Eckstein (1990), "Insurgency: The Transformation of Peasant Rebellion," World Politics, Vol. 42, No. 4, July 1990, pp. 443-444.

9. What are the difference between terrorism and
insurgency?
Terrorism Insurgency
 The use of violence to express a certain ideology. An
example bombing of Hiroshima,9/11 by Al Qaeda,
Boko-Haram attacks on northern Nigeria and
Cameroon. An weapons usually used are WMD and
sophisticated technology (cyber attacks).
 Terrorism remains a major threat at the national,
regional and international peace and security. This is
because, there is deliberate violation of international
law and human rights. An example is Boko-Haram
attack on soft targets like churches, markets, security
base.
 The persistence use of violence because of
frustration and the weakness to challenge the
political order through conventional military ways.
Example is ISIS and the Anti Balaka in Central
Africa Republic.
 The development of new trends, will be point in the
next decades. It may be related to terrorism on this
point, the spiritual insurgency which is based on
political violence and religion. Also associated with
secularization, the strains of modernization spawned
a religious renaissance. An example is the Al Shabab
attack on Kenya

10. Are these ideologies just or unjust?
The study of international security is more than human violence, war is the worst idea that can ever be evoked when
discussing security at the national, regional and international level. This account for the creation of legal jurisdictions
like the international criminal court (ICC) and the international court of justice (ICJ). The idea of justifying war may
seem bizarre, especially in Christian countries, which religion is anti-militarist.
It becomes paradoxical because the Christians have found justification for the war a just war, they argue that is a war
in accordance with law, natural law and morality. This concept is ambiguous, because they are always leaders or
countries ready for war. But war can only be justified if defensive and conducted to protect the weakest.
Just war is a concept first evoked by the “West”, meanwhile the concept of jihad was neglected or never discussed.
which is a form of just war because it is holy war. It is a codified principle in the Holy Koran, which is eventually not
used today because of the new world order (Terrorism).As such, terrorism and insurgency are major security threats to
the world and can never be considered just.
CAMEROON COMMUNITY OF POLITICAL SCIENCES 2012-2013

11. Recommendations
 The Westphalia treaty should be seriously implemented, with its core principles of ; sovereignty, equality and non
interference in other state.
 The respect for every religion, language and person. NB: mostly the caricature or satiric images of the Muslim
religious leader, be it on social networks or journals.
 There should be the control of the arm industry and weapons of mass destruction.
 The definition of a state should be revised. This is because, if a state is based on a territory, sovereignty and a
government, why is Palestine not given that opportunity.