Roots of Terrorism

In NR’s last issue I discussed the increase of terrorist action and the trend toward international tieups among terrorist groups. There is no reason to think that this resurgence of terrorism is a temporary quirk.

I say “resurgence of terrorism” in order to stress the fact that terrorism is not something new in human history. At all times and many places men have gone in for terrorism in one or another measure. It is reasonable to conclude from the breadth and length of its pedigree that terrorism has roots deeply implanted in human nature. It is one of the marks of the savage that always lurks not far under the layer of civilization.

JB

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James Burnham

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In NR’s last issue I discussed the increase of terrorist action and the trend toward international tieups among terrorist groups. There is no reason to think that this resurgence of terrorism is a temporary quirk.

I say “resurgence of terrorism” in order to stress the fact that terrorism is not something new in human history. At all times and many places men have gone in for terrorism in one or another measure. It is reasonable to conclude from the breadth and length of its pedigree that terrorism has roots deeply implanted in human nature. It is one of the marks of the savage that always lurks not far under the layer of civilization.