Victims of Terrorism in an international context: a comparative analysis

In recent years, particularly since the peace process in Northern Ireland, the death of Miguel Angel Blanco in Spain, the widespread coverage of Islamic terrorism in the USA and EU and an increasing exceptionalism around sub-state terrorism, both as a tactic and in the international response to attacks, we have witnessed a growth in the visibility of victims of terrorism as political actors with significant currency in government, civil society and on the international stage. Victimization from terrorism is increasingly being treated as distinct victim experience, separate from other victimizing experiences such as that considered to be ordinary a-political crime. This paper will present the results from an international needs based analysis of victims of sub state terrorism and examine whether the experience of these victims differs substantially from accounts of individuals who experienced similar acts (murder, serious physical injury) without the political context of terrorism. As part of this analysis the context of the terrorist attacks will be taken into consideration for the victims of terrorism, three samples will be considered; victims of terrorism in a divided society, victims of an ongoing terrorist campaign (without a sectarian/ideological community split) and victims of a one off terrorist attack in a democratic society. The paper will conclude with a discussion on the diffusion of best practices for the treatment of victims of terrorism internationally and a discussion of the role of the victim of terrorism in peace processes and post conflict activities.