Ethnic Terrorism

Tooba Islam
• Ethnic terrorism refers to violent acts and strategies
employed by ethnic groups or organizations in response
to real or perceived injustices based on their ethnic
identity. It often arises when these groups feel
politically, socially, economically, or culturally
marginalized, oppressed, or excluded by the state or
dominant ethnic groups. Ethnic terrorism is rooted in
the desire for recognition, autonomy, independence, or
even survival, and its motivations typically center
around the defense or assertion of ethnic identity and
rights.
• Unlike terrorism driven by religious or ideological ideologies, ethnic
terrorism is more directly related to the ethnic group's struggle for
justice, territorial control, political participation, or cultural
preservation. In these contexts, the perpetrating groups often view
violence as a legitimate means of securing their group’s rights or
rectifying past wrongs.
• While terrorism is frequently associated with radicalized ideologies or
religious extremism, ethnic terrorism is typically driven by a desire to
reclaim power, seek recognition, or avenge perceived historical
wrongs. These groups may use terroristic tactics such as bombings,
assassinations, kidnappings, and attacks on civilians in efforts to
achieve their goals, often targeting not only state institutions but
also the ethnic or political groups they view as oppressors.
Ethnic Identity and Group
Solidarity
• Ethnic identity can form the foundation for violent resistance
when a group feels its cultural, linguistic, or ethnic identity
is under threat. Strong group solidarity can lead to the use
of terrorism as a means to preserve or assert this identity
• Example: The Kurdish insurgency involving the PKK
(Kurdistan Workers' Party) is driven by the Kurdish desire for
autonomy in Turkey, Iraq, and Syria. The Kurds have long
faced political and cultural repression, including bans on
their language and attempts to assimilate them into the
Turkish majority. This has led to violent uprisings and
terrorist activities aimed at gaining independence or greater
cultural rights for Kurds.
Historical Grievances and Long-
standing Conflicts
• Ethnic groups with long histories of oppression often
resort to terrorism as a way to avenge past wrongs or
secure a sense of justice, especially if the state's actions
are perceived as unjust or genocidal.
• Example: The Tamil Tigers (LTTE) in Sri Lanka fought
for an independent Tamil Eelam state after decades of
marginalization and discrimination by the Sinhalese-
majority government. The Tamils faced economic
inequality, political exclusion, and violent repression,
which pushed the LTTE to use terrorism as a way of
defending their ethnic rights.
Ethnic Marginalization and
Discrimination
• When an ethnic group is systematically excluded from
political, economic, or social life, feelings of resentment
and alienation can build up. Ethnic minorities that face
discrimination, either in the form of limited access to
power or economic resources, may resort to violence to
demand rights or seek justice.
• Example: The Tamil Tigers (LTTE) in Sri Lanka emerged
partly because the Tamil ethnic group felt politically
marginalized by the Sinhalese-dominated government,
which limited their opportunities and access to
resources. The LTTE's violent tactics were a response to
their grievances over decades of exclusion.
State Oppression and
Marginalization
• When a government actively discriminates against an
ethnic group—whether through laws, economic neglect,
or violence—those groups may turn to terrorism as a
means of self-defense or to achieve political autonomy.
• Example: The Basque separatist group ETA in Spain
arose due to the oppression of the Basque people, who
were marginalized by the Spanish state. The Basques'
desire for autonomy was ignored by the Spanish
government, leading to ETA's violent campaign for
independence, which involved bombings and
assassinations aimed at achieving a Basque homeland.
Desire for Self-Determination or
Independence
• Many ethnic groups seek to assert their identity and
control over their own land or resources. If these groups
are denied political autonomy or independence by the
state, they may resort to terrorism to achieve their
objectives.
• Example: The Basque separatist group ETA in Spain
fought for an independent Basque nation, believing that
the Spanish state ignored their cultural and political
rights. This desire for an independent Basque homeland
led to years of terrorism and insurgency, including
bombings and assassinations.
State Collapse or Weak
Governance
• In regions where the state is weak or in the process of collapse
—such as in failed states—ethnic groups may resort to
terrorism as a means of asserting control or gaining leverage
in a power vacuum. In these situations, groups may vie for
control of resources, territory, or political influence, often
leading to violent conflict.
• Example: In Somalia, the collapse of the central government
led to the rise of several insurgent and terrorist groups,
including the al-Shabaab militant group, which has a strong
ethnic and clan-based foundation. The lack of state control in
many areas allowed these groups to gain influence and resort
to terrorism to achieve their goals of creating an Islamic state.
Ethnic Nationalism and
Separatism
• Ethnic nationalism often drives terrorist groups to seek
an independent state for a particular ethnic group,
especially when they feel that political autonomy or
recognition is being denied.
• Example: The Kashmir conflict between India and
Pakistan involves ethnic and religious dimensions, with
many Kashmiri Muslims seeking independence or
greater autonomy. Groups like Jammu and Kashmir
Liberation Front (JKLF) and Hizbul Mujahideen have
engaged in violent campaigns for self-determination,
often framing their struggle as one for the ethnic and
religious rights of the Kashmiri people against Indian
Cultural Suppression
• When an ethnic group’s culture, language, or traditions are
suppressed or threatened by a dominant ethnic group or the
state, there may be a pushback in the form of violence. The
desire to preserve or restore cultural identity can lead to
radicalization, especially when nonviolent resistance is
perceived as ineffective.
• Example: In Tibet, the ethnic Tibetan population has faced
cultural suppression by the Chinese government, which
promotes the use of Mandarin and limits religious practices
associated with Tibetan Buddhism. Groups and individuals,
such as Tibetan monks, have resorted to self-immolation or
violent protest to draw attention to their cause.
Ethnic Cleansing and Genocide
• Ethnic terrorism is sometimes used proactively by one
ethnic group to eliminate or subjugate another. Terrorist
tactics are employed to displace or exterminate members
of the targeted group.
• Example: In Bosnia during the Bosnian War (1992–1995),
ethnic Serbs engaged in widespread ethnic cleansing
against Bosnian Muslims and Croats. The Srebrenica
massacre saw over 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys
killed in a systematic campaign to rid the region of
Muslims. The violence was framed as an effort to create a
Serb-dominated, ethnically homogenous state.
Resource Competition and
Economic Inequality
• Ethnic groups may resort to terrorism if they perceive that they
are economically disadvantaged or denied access to important
resources, such as land, jobs, or government services. In some
cases, this economic exclusion is exacerbated by ethnic identity,
leading to violent campaigns by marginalized groups to secure
better living conditions or territorial control.
• Example: The Ogoni people in Nigeria, an ethnic minority in the
Niger Delta, launched a campaign for greater control over the
region's oil wealth. They faced environmental degradation and
economic exploitation at the hands of the Nigerian government
and foreign oil companies. Ken Saro-Wiwa, an Ogoni activist, was
executed after advocating for the rights of his people, which later
led to violence and terrorism in the region.
Radicalization and Extremist
Ideology
• Ethnic groups involved in terrorism may embrace radical
ideologies that combine ethnic identity with broader
political or religious goals. These ideologies often justify
violent means to achieve political or ethnic ends.
• Example: The Algerian Civil War (1991–2002) saw the rise
of Islamic Salvation Front (FIS), which combined ethnic and
religious ideologies to justify violent jihad against the
Algerian government. While the group's primary focus was
on establishing an Islamic state, their actions were also
tied to the Arab-Berber ethnic divide, with Berbers often
caught in the crossfire of the insurgency.
Revenge or Retribution
• Ethnic groups involved in conflict may resort to terrorism as a
form of revenge for perceived wrongs—whether those wrongs
involve past violence, loss of life, or other forms of injustice.
The desire to “right” perceived historical wrongs can drive
cycles of retaliation, escalating into terrorist attacks.
• Example: In the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, both Jewish and
Palestinian groups have resorted to terrorism as a form of
revenge or to punish the other for perceived injustices.
Palestinian groups like Hamas have carried out suicide
bombings in retaliation for Israeli military actions, while
Israel’s military operations have sometimes targeted
Palestinian ethnic groups in retaliation for terrorist acts.
External Support and
Transnational Networks
• Ethnic-based terrorist movements can receive support from
neighboring countries or diaspora communities that share
an ethnic or cultural bond, often escalating the conflict by
providing funding, weapons, or political backing.
• Example: The Tamil Tigers (LTTE) received significant
support from the Tamil diaspora, particularly in countries
like Canada and the UK, where large Tamil communities
existed. This support enabled the LTTE to sustain its
insurgency against the Sri Lankan government, including
funding for weapons and training.
Media and Propaganda
• Ethnic terrorism can be amplified through media, where
dehumanizing narratives about the enemy group are
spread, further solidifying an "us vs. them" mentality
and justifying violence.
• Example: In Rwanda, the Hutu-dominated government
used Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM) to
incite hatred against the Tutsi population before and
during the 1994 genocide. The media propagated
dehumanizing rhetoric, calling Tutsis “cockroaches” and
encouraging the Hutu population to engage in mass
killings. This media campaign helped escalate an ethnic
conflict into full-blown genocide, with around 800,000
Characteristics of Ethnic
Terrorist Groups
• Ethnic terrorist organizations often share several key
characteristics, including:
• A Strong Sense of Identity: The members of ethnic
terrorist groups are typically united by a strong ethnic
identity and a shared sense of grievance or oppression.
The group’s collective memory and perceived
victimhood often form the basis of its ideology.
• A Goal of Political Change: Ethnic terrorist groups
generally seek to change the political status quo in their
favor, whether through secession, autonomy, or other
forms of political recognition.
• Terrorist Tactics: These groups often use violence to
achieve their aims, targeting both military and civilian
populations. Common tactics include bombings,
kidnappings, assassinations, and guerrilla warfare. The
violence is intended to destabilize the government and
compel it to negotiate with the group.
• Cultural and Symbolic Emphasis: Many ethnic
terrorist groups use cultural symbols, historical
references, and language to unite and mobilize their
members. Their actions are often framed as a defense
of their culture, identity, and way of life.
Early 20th Century
Irish Republican Army (IRA)
(1900s - 1920s)
• Motivation: Irish independence from British rule.
• The IRA, a paramilitary group formed in the early 20th
century, used bombings, assassinations, and attacks
against British targets, including military personnel and
civilians. One of their key objectives was to create an
independent Irish Republic and to end British control
over Ireland.
• Significant Event: The Easter Rising (1916) in Dublin
was a key event where Irish nationalists launched an
armed rebellion against British rule. Though
unsuccessful, it inspired further resistance leading to
the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922.
Mid-20th Century (1940s - 1970s)
Jewish Underground (Irgun) (1940s)
• Motivation: Establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine.
• The Irgun was a Zionist paramilitary organization that
engaged in violent acts against British authorities and
Arabs in Palestine to establish the state of Israel. They
targeted British infrastructure, military installations, and
Arab communities, using bombings and assassinations.
• Significant Event: The King David Hotel bombing (1946)
in Jerusalem was one of the most infamous attacks by
the Irgun, killing 91 people, including British officials.
Kashmiri Insurgency (1947 -
Present)
• Motivation: Separatism and independence for the
Muslim-majority region of Kashmir.
• The insurgency in Kashmir has involved ethnic and
religious violence, primarily between Muslim Kashmiris
seeking independence from India and the Indian state.
Several militant groups, including Jaish-e-Mohammed
and Lashkar-e-Taiba, have engaged in attacks against
Indian security forces and civilians in the region.
• Significant Event: The 1999 Kargil War between India
and Pakistan was sparked by ethnic and territorial
disputes over Kashmir, leading to significant military
and civilian casualties.
Late 20th Century (1970s - 1990s)
Basque ETA (Euskadi Ta Askatasuna) (1959 -
2018)

• Motivation: Independence for the Basque Country from Spain

and France.
• The ETA was a Basque separatist group in Spain and France that
used terrorism to achieve political autonomy for the Basque
people. They were responsible for hundreds of deaths over
several decades through bombings, shootings, and kidnappings.
• Significant Event: The 1973 killing of Luis Carrero Blanco, the
Spanish Prime Minister, in a car bomb attack was one of ETA’s
most famous acts of terrorism, shaking the Spanish government.
Palestinian Liberation Organization
(PLO) and Fatah (1960s - 1990s)
• Motivation: Establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
• The PLO, initially founded as a coalition of Palestinian nationalist groups, engaged
in armed struggle and terrorism targeting Israeli civilians and military personnel.
The Fatah faction, led by Yasser Arafat, became the most prominent.
• Significant Event: The Munich Olympics Massacre (1972), where members of the
Black September faction of the PLO took Israeli athletes hostage and murdered 11
of them, is one of the most infamous acts of Palestinian ethnic terrorism.
• Tamil Tigers (LTTE) (1976 - 2009)
• Motivation: Independence for the Tamil ethnic minority in Sri Lanka.
• The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) fought for the establishment of an
independent Tamil state, Tamil Eelam, in Sri Lanka. The group used guerrilla
tactics, suicide bombings, and targeted assassinations to advance their cause.
• Significant Event: The 1991 assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, the former Prime
Minister of India, by an LTTE suicide bomber was one of their most high-profile
attacks.
Early 21st Century (2000s -
Present)
•
• Chechen Independence Movement (1990s - Present)
• Motivation: Independence for the Chechen Republic from Russia.
• Ethnic Chechens in the North Caucasus region of Russia have fought for independence
from Russian rule, with movements like the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria and the
Caucasus Emirate using terrorism to achieve their aims. The conflict has been marked by
violent insurgencies and terrorist attacks in Russia.
• Significant Event: The 2004 Beslan school hostage crisis, where Chechen militants took
over 1,100 people hostage, including 777 children, resulting in the deaths of over 330
people.
• Uyghur Separatism (1990s - Present)
• Motivation: Independence or greater autonomy for the Uyghur ethnic group in the
Xinjiang region of China.
• Ethnic Uyghur separatists in China have been involved in violent acts to gain
independence or greater autonomy for their homeland, East Turkestan. The East Turkestan
Islamic Movement (ETIM) is one of the most prominent Uyghur separatist groups.
• Significant Event: The 2013 Tiananmen Square car attack, which killed five
people, was attributed to Uyghur separatists. There have been other attacks,
including bombings and stabbings in Chinese cities.
• Boko Haram (2002 - Present)
• Motivation: Creation of an Islamic state and the establishment of Sharia law in
northern Nigeria, targeting the ethnic and religious minority Christian and
moderate Muslim populations.
• Boko Haram, an Islamic extremist group in northern Nigeria, has committed
numerous acts of ethnic and sectarian violence. Although religiously motivated,
the group's focus on controlling ethnic territories and terrorizing communities
with attacks against both Muslims and Christians qualifies as ethnic terrorism.
• Significant Event: The 2014 kidnapping of the Chibok schoolgirls, in which Boko
Haram abducted over 270 girls, was a widely publicized act that brought global
attention to the group's activities.
• Rohingya Insurgency (2016 - Present)
• Motivation: Rights and autonomy for the Rohingya Muslim
minority in Myanmar.
• The Rohingya Muslims, an ethnic minority in Myanmar, have
been involved in an insurgency against the Myanmar
government and the military, which has been accused of
carrying out mass killings and ethnic cleansing against the
Rohingya people.
• Significant Event: The 2017 attacks on Myanmar security forces
by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) led to a brutal
military crackdown, resulting in thousands of deaths and the
displacement of over 700,000 Rohingya Muslims.