CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES IN COUNTERTERRORISM

IDENTIFYING AND ADDRESSING GAPS AT NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVELS

Abstract

Terrorism is a global phenomenon and it has many implications on the security of the contemporary world. The impact of terrorism is more than the immediate consequences of an attack, it has ripple effect on all aspects of life such as economic, social, psychological, political and others. Economic factors such as poverty, political factors and social/psychological factors are major causes of terrorism. Governments in various nations are committing so much resources in order to combat the menace especially since the turn it has taken after 9/11 attacks on the United States. In explaining this study, Realism Theory is used. Secondary data were utilised to gather information for the study. The study found out that the transnational nature of terrorist organizations presents a significant obstacle to effective counterterrorism efforts; there is also the lack of international consensus on achieving a comprehensive effort especially on what works and strategies to be adopted in combating terrorism. The study concluded that addressing terrorism requires a comprehensive and coordinated approach, demanding cooperation between governments, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders, with a focus on promoting peace, stability, and economic development in regions affected by terrorism. Effective and comprehensive countermeasures, creating and strengthening international cooperation, addressing the root causes of terrorism are some of the recommendations the study made.