The use of terror to instil and manipulate fear may serve a number of purposes. Depending on the situation, terrorism may be aimed simultaneously at several objectives, both tactical and strategic.

It was stated earlier that one of the principle aims of terrorism is to divide the mass of society from the incumbent authorities. According to Thornton this process of disorientation is one of the most characteristic uses of terror. However, he warns that ‘terror is only appropriate if the insurgents (or incumbents) enjoy a low level of actual political support but have a high potential for such support. If their potential is low, terrorism is likely to be counter-productive.’ In the latter case, those who use it may discover that terrorism leads to a wave of outrage and revulsion against them, sweeping aside any latent or actual base of public support and sympathy for their political cause. Or, in other conditions, it may lead to spontaneous (and unanticipated) counter-violence and terror with the emergence of vigilante groups or rival terrorist units. The original terrorists may then find themselves sucked into a kind of inter-communal or inter-movement struggle which acts to neutralise their potential effectiveness in influencing long-term policy or constitutional changes.

The psychology of fear

Because of these dangers it is vital to their success that the terrorists have a firm understanding of the effects of disorientation and of the nature of the society in which they try to induce it.