Methods of combating ethnic terrorism in Europe: IRA and ETA examples

The main objective of this thesis is to analyze the causes of ethnic terrorism and combatting methods in Europe. To achieve this aim, IRA and ETA terrorist organizations are being studied specifically. There are some common points received from study by analyzing this terrorist organizations: to continue their existence, they alter their sayings and actions towards their base and grassroots in order to survive and they take measures in their own organization to secure uniformity. To attain above mentioned aim, the study has been analyzed with following theories: Primordialism, Modernism, Ethno-Sembolism and Constructivism. The study seeks for answers to following questions: How did United Kingdom and Spain fight against terrorism, What are the underlying causes of terrorism, what factions and strategies were efficient for IRA and ETA to have survived their organizational structure and keep their base? At this point, it has observed that ethnicity, identity and nationalism were the main factors maintaining their structure and keeping their base. Primordialism emphasises on genetic and cultural values, Modernism takes nationalism to forefront, Ethno-Sembolism put forward the historical symbols and Constructivism focuses on configuration of social identity. All of these theories shed light on study to analyze terrorist organizations. In the meaning of combatting ethnic terrorism, it has observed that terrorist organizations wield varied methods for varied action means. Generally, when terrorists continue armed attacks, repressive measures are efficient and when actions decrease, social – economic and cultural measures are efficient. The political parties coming from an ethnic group and not have a tie with terrorist organizations also play an important role to fight against ethnic terrorism. To prepare this thesis, a wide literatur review has been implemented and all published and electronic books, published thesises has been scanned about IRA and ETA organizations. To make study clear, in addition to qualitative elements, quantitative elements has been used such as figures and tables.