The Different Faces of Islamic Terrorism

Islamic fundamentalist terrorism is not a monolithic phenomenon, as its protagonists have been multiple and varied actors. In spite of its diversity, the roots of this phenomenon can be found in a series of psychosocial factors, in the historical background itself of the Arab-Muslim countries, in the political, social and economic structure of these societies, and, finally, in the dominant ideological and religious superstructure in these cultures. It is necessary to analyze this entire series of variables, then, in order to interpret the role and the effectiveness of Islamic fundamentalist terrorism in the world today.