What are the differences between the academic and the political view on international terrorism? (PDF)

Seminar paper from the year 2001 in the subject Politics - International Politics - Topic: Peace and Conflict Studies, Security, grade: 7,5 from max 10, University of Amsterdam (FMG), course: United Nations International Students Conference in Amsterdam 2001, language: English, abstract: As a student of political science, who participated in the course United Nations International
Student Conference of Amsterdam (UNISCA). I am supposed to write a final essay. This final
essay is expected to combine the scientific perspectives from the syllabi during the
preparation with the practical perspective that I gained in the actual conference.
In this simulation of the policy process in the United Nations (UN) I obtained the role of an
Israeli ambassador, who had to cope with the issues of international terrorism, right to selfdetermination
and the peaceful use of outer space in the 1st Committee.
Due to the events of 11th September, that might become a turning point in history, as many
believe, most of the time and negotiations in the 1st committee were devoted to the issue of
international terrorism during the conference. It therefore seems logical to me that I dedicate
my paper to this topic that struck fear in the hearts of million people in the entire western
world, confronting us with new global cleavages, alliances, and a shift toward security at the
expense of individual freedom. Though the course-material regarding international terrorism
was collected before the terrorist attack on the USA on 11th September, and certainly needs to
be updated and re-evaluated, it provides the reader with a general insight on that matter. In the
academic sphere, problems can be defined, analysed and eventually successfully solved. But
on the other hand it is the sphere of politics that mainly has to deal with problems. There are
other rules in the political realm endemic than in the scientific world. These political rules basically reflect relations of power and therefore cannot solve problems 'easily' like in the
academic realm. [...]