A critical overview of international law with regard to the problem of terrorism in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks

Abstract

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 have dramatically shaken world order and altered our perception of terrorism as being a serious threat to the national security of any State. These events are unprecedented in modern history, first, by their sheer magnitude and destructiveness, and also because of the suicidal fanaticism of its perpetrators. Nevertheless, there is a need to explore and analyze some of the international legal issues with regard to the problem of terrorism, especially in the aftermath of the September 11 events. To achieve this, the thesis will first examine the historical and definitional background of the problem of international terrorism. It will then explore the thorny subject of terrorism and State responsibility in order to determine under what circumstances can a State be held internationally liable for the commission of a terrorist act. Finally, in the last part of the thesis, the issue of self-defence against terrorist attacks will be thoroughly analyzed.