What are the root causes of terrorism?

More than a dozen world leaders meet this week in New York to consider the root causes of terrorism and how to defeat it.

Victims of terrorism from around the world will also take part in the discussions.

The conference, "Fighting Terrorism for Humanity", will be opened by UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan.

The Norwegian prime minister - hosting the event - says the UN should take the central role in the war against terror.

What do you think are the root causes of terrorism and can they be eliminated? Should the US continue to lead the war on terror? What more should be done?

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

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Your reaction

Terrorism never really works against the most oppressive regimes that deserve it most Abisam, USA/Ethiopia

Terrorism never really works against the most oppressive regimes that deserve it most. It works against relatively liberal, democratic and more or less open societies that have a conscious. This is where the terrorists take full advantage of all the available rights and privileges and can move freely to commit their hideous acts.
Abisam, USA/Ethiopia

Our own arrogance believing that we can force people to believe something that we believe in. It's the same reason that cultural diversity meets with rejection in our work places.
Daniel Boston, US

First you have to define what terrorism is. Is it called terrorism when a people with no power strike back in the only way they think they can? I don't think so. Is it terrorism when a group of people with a set of religious beliefs think they must impose their beliefs on others at any cost? Yes. It's a slippery slope, though, isn't it?
Danica, US

The question I would ask is why are there so many people the world willing to destroy themselves in order to inflict pain and suffering on others? In all these acts of terrorism, an individual or group of individuals concedes to an act of horror and brutality in order to advance a political agenda. This is done with chilling regularity despite the overwhelming evidence that such acts do not, in fact, advance any cause, ideology or political purpose. The root cause of terrorism is not, I think, poverty or exploitation; rather it is the complete and total failure of political leadership.
Michael, USA

To eradicate terrorism, one needs to fully comprehend the background behind any single terrorist attack Omeir Yusuf, Arizona, US

To eradicate terrorism, one needs to fully comprehend the background behind any single terrorist attack. Such a violent reaction must have been caused by some sort of action. What was that action? Understanding this outburst helps to avoid it from happening in the future. Learn from the past and bridge those communication gaps.
Omeir Yusuf, Arizona, USA

The difference between a terrorist and a freedom fighter is whether we accept the motivation of the group or not. Power over others is the main cause of terrorism.
Kim, Netherlands

I think one of the very basic causes of terrorism is Injustice. Those who find themselves deprived of proper rights and justice may react with hostility, if they are not attended in a fair and unbiased way. I believe if there is a general interest toward peace and security, then US can play a sincere part in tackling the disputes in the Middle-east and other parts of the world. Terrorism can be fought and eliminated only under umbrella of UN.
Qudsia, Pakistan

The United Nations must act independently while resolving all outstanding disputes Aamir Z Raja, Australia

The only fundamental reason is that all disputed issues in the world must be settled. Whether it is Palestine, Jammu and Kashmir, occupation of Iraq. All these issues must be solved with all sincerity and determination. I am also of the view as long as the developed nations, so called superpowers, have veto power and their interests in running the affairs of the oppressed countries, there can never be peace in the world. The United Nations must act independently while resolving all outstanding disputes. As long as veto tactics are applied by superpowers there can never be peace in the world. Truly I would say these countries are actually responsible for terrorism.
Aamir Z Raja, Australia

Poverty and inequality are the root causes. Resolve them and we will have a safe place to live in.
Waqas Mir, Pakistan

Most people here are saying "poverty" is the root cause of terrorism. What about the IRA or Basque separatists in Spain? Hardly starving are they? The causes are not that simple to define and are usually very complex historical situations where the roots go back hundreds of years. To understand Ireland - start at page 1 of Schama's History of Britain. To understand the Middle East - a good place would be page 1 of Genesis.
Andrew, UK

The issue of religion is overplayed John, UK

Terrorism is a poor man's battle against rich man's domination. As long as there are double standards, there will be people to fight and die for it. Regardless that the media machine, controlled by corporates, fight against terrorism - they will not be successful. Bomb someone's house with Apache Helicopter and F16 fighter plane and take away their land, bomb their hospitals and schools using zargon mastered by people from the other side of the world for their own economic and political clout. This breeds frustration, aggression and rightly so violent struggle if need be. The issue of religion is overplayed and to do so is to discredit a legitimate struggle.
John, UK

For me, the standard of living of the West compared to the rest of the world. As we continue to defend our lifestyle (and I am not against defending it) other nations /communities become frustrated by being left out of our protected economic networks. That coupled with a clear, militarily visible world leadership by the United States does a lot to keep the terrorist momentum on a high.
Martin, Germany, Germany

What is the definition of terrorism? Why are the same people that fought against Soviet Union then called freedom fighters and now called terrorists. Terrorism is a word invented by the west for its own misuse whenever necessary. To fight terrorism we need to educate the world and create opportunity for those individuals that look at terrorist acts as a way to get attention. America with its current arrogance by is creating more enemies than friends after Sept 11.
Kashif, USA

Terrorism results from a feeling amongst a "powerless" group that their concerns are repeatedly not being considered. They resort to it from impatience. Of course such feelings may be justified or unjustified. Ultimately, they form into organised parties to fight their "oppressor". We may draw parallels to the various guerrilla wars in Africa, Asia, South America and the Middle East. Noting that these regions are mostly developing and terrorism is against developed countries, can we then conclude that terrorism is a reaction against imperialism?
Allan Chibisa, Zimbabwe

Terrorism today is not even easily identifiable with a cause. What cause were the Bali bombers furthering? Was it Russia in Chechnya, Israel in West Bank, America in Saudi Arabia or India in Kashmir? Dozens of innocent civilians were killed in a place that is a good 3000 miles from ANY of these so-called "flashpoints". The point is not whether there are grievances in this world or not. The point is, killing innocent people is not an acceptable form of expressing dissatisfaction. The root cause of terrorism is only one - evil. And it should be dealt with as such.
Trivikram Krishnamurthy, India

In Colombia, we have terrorists financed by drugs gangs, where everything is a matter of business and a way to power. Incredibly for the world, much more attention is given to Middle-East terrorism than to Colombian terrorism whereas the latter is less justified.
Ingnacio, Uruguay

Modern Islamicist terrorism is caused by those who want to prevent the Islamic world from reaching modernity. They want to turn the clock back 800 years and establish a world wide Islamic dictatorship. The US is entirely blameless. We will destroy terrorism by a combination of military force and globalization. Al-Qaeda, the anti-globalizers and the eco-faddists may want to keep the underdeveloped world as a museum of living antiquity, but the power of free enterprise will sweep them aside.
Andrew Walden, USA

Conflict is the nature of man. As long as man exists this will exist. Terrorism is merely the manifestation of this conflict in open democratic systems with free flow of information. If we were to deny terrorists democracy and impose a ban on reporting of terrorist activity, it will disappear. It is time to redefine what democracy is, and understand that we need to impose certain constraints on the concept of democracy for it to flourish.
Asela Dahana, Canada

Root cause of Terrorism? The globalization of western cultural values and norms over non-western cultures on the whole done under economic or armed duress. Should the US continue to lead? The US must continue to be involved, but "lead" is a statement I would not recognise as being accurate, rather I would suggest the US supports anti-terrorism system placement, resource building and this must be done collectively with all nations that are ideologically opposed to terrorism, but in unison, not in isolation, as has happened for so long. So much more needs to be done. The WTO, IMF, World Bank, OECD, EU, APEC, ASEAN and all significant and non-significant, but powerful NGO's need to address the nature of terrorism together-whilst shifting towards a sustainable timetable of economic transformation of poorer nations and their peoples, built on a shared platform of indigenous and non-indigenous systems of wealth creation.
Adam Paterson, New Zealand

The simple reason is that the old values have been discarded. The culture of me first at any price, coupled with open borders and mass communications has resulted in a situation whereby people offering simple solutions to complex problems have attracted enough followers to do these things. Technology and ideology has also done its work. It takes only a handful of people to cause an incident which in turn creates enough momentum to perpetuate more actions.
Marinder, UK

Religion. People have been fighting over religious beliefs since the beginning of time. Terrorism will probably never end as long as organised religion exists.
Katherine Arnold, USA

The key to the solution of terrorism lies in the hands of the West Siddique Malik, USA

Terrorism stems from ignorance and poverty, which in turn come from economic disorder, which results from corruption, which sprouts under dictatorial regimes in which the concept of accountability is completely alien. A long-term effort to help the Third World cultivate genuine democracy needs to be initiated. Only this will ensure a completely safe and peaceful world. This requires major structural reforms in these countries. This process must be stimulated and supported by the West else it will never get off the ground. However, before the West embarks upon this project, it has to stop getting into bed with dictators just for the sake of a short sighted foreign policy goal. Therefore, the key to the solution of terrorism lies in the hands of the West.
Siddique Malik, USA

The root of terrorism is lack of genuine spaces for dialogue. How can anybody with no money or means defend their ideas against powerful propaganda and armies?
George H, Colombia

Root Causes of Terrorism: despair and frustration and anger fed by poverty, disempowerment, and exploitation. Terrorism is the weapon of the weak and disenfranchised. So long as the human tendency prevails for the powerful to exploit and manipulate the weak, terrorism will exist. To what degree depends on how we deal with the complexities of our evolving humanity. Consider where we may be now, if instead of invasion, bombing, death and disillusion, President Bush had enlisted the energy of millions worldwide who would have praised and supported a leader able to bring increasing pressure without creating even more human suffering and mass destruction.

Long Term Strategy? The reality that widespread poverty impoverishes the wealthy as well as the poor must be made clear to the people of the global corporate community, especially Americans.
Vince Lawrence, United States

Terrorism started in the mind. Its eradication must begin there. Unless, we change our mentality, beliefs and deeds to the extent that we have consideration and feelings for the other person, our minds will not be changed and so will terrorism last for ever.
Ndum Edwin, USA

The accelerating speed of open borders and mixing of cultures has allowed people to openly witness the division between the haves and have nots and violence has long been a way of making and keep power for the haves. So need we ask how it has spread to those who are wanting to be legitimate and powerful. We must stop looking at terrorism as a new and different thing. We must look at ourselves and stop using violence as a way to do anything. It legitimizes the use of violence from anyone desiring to work toward any cause.
Melinda Gelder, U.S.

Ideology that denigrates the value of human life, embraced in an oppressive police-state (where such beliefs are regularly practised) are the key drivers for targeted killing of innocent non-combatants for the advancement of that hateful ideology. Terrorism is simple to define - it takes courage and commitment to extirpate it. But that's what must be done if we are to stand tall as decent human beings.
Tony, Australia

We should start by looking at the developed world's own oppression of developing countries David, India (UK

To tackle the roots of terrorism we must first define the word. The words 'fight against terror' are been dangerously banded around from Washington to Israel to the heart of Africa. Where do we draw the line between oppression of minorities resulting in rebellious violence and international organised 'terror'? The issue is undoubtedly large and we should start by looking at the developed world's own oppression of developing countries "let he without sin cast the first stone"
David, India (UK)

Poverty, ignorance, and helplessness - and a spark of misdirected hope from evil people who exploit the religious angle in their own quest for power.
Mark M. Newdick, US/UK

People interfering in others' business. The Middle East is not a province of the western world and we have no right to decide anything for them whatsoever.
Tom, England

I believe that the cure against terror is respect for others and justice.Do what you like to be done for you.
Nora Mares, Canada

The main reason for terrorism is repression of innocent civilians. They don't know what to do - they only can fight back at the dictators because they have no right to speak up against the dictators. So peace will start only when true democracy will find a place
Tomas, Belgium

The Terrorism phenomenon has increased over the years. What was a single root of terrorism has now turned into several roots scattered and as such the possibility of eliminating them is low. We must also bear in mind that it was inhumanity which created terrorism, so for there to be a solution of "Terrorism" we must look upon the factors which created inhumanity first, and it wasn't terrorism. The problem with terrorism is that the damage has already been done, damage that will live among nations and never be deleted from cultural values.
Andros, Cyprus

The same as the root of all evil. Poverty of the poor and greed of the rich.
Siddhartha, India

It is difficult to search for the root causes of terrorism in the absence of a clear definition of the phenomenon on which UN members and NGO's agree. "Should the US continue to lead the war on terror?" No, absolutely not. It should participate in war on terrorists and the causes of terror (you cannot lead war on "terror" alone, simply because you cannot declare war against a political tool), but the US should not be allowed to "lead" that war. Only an international body can "lead".
Jamil, France

Oppression is the root cause of terrorism, insurrections, or struggles.
Frail, Kenya

The root causes of terrorism are injustice, ignorance, poverty and oppression. If you fight against these causes you fight against terrorism.
Radic Gondorff, Germany

I don't think it is fair to blame any kind of terrorism on Islam even if you add the world fundamentalists because the west must understand that we have a will and that resisting the occupiers is not a form of terrorism. So get out of our countries and live in peace or else do not complain the consequences
Ahmed Lashin, Egypt