One of the greatest paradoxes of our time is that one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. In a world that is increasingly defining itself in terms of trade - men and money - the paradox will remain. Globalisation seeks to dissolve boundaries of territory and culture. Yet each such attempt results in a backlash. Most often, the dissonance manifests itself in the form of armed resistance. Many such movements violate the norms of civilised dissent. Genuine and imagined fears of losing rights and identities have resulted in terrorism becoming a way of life for many. The neocons of the West would like the world to believe that terrorism could be traced to one source: Islam. This is far too simplistic - and misleading - a theory to explain the million mutinies in every continent. There is no single wellspring of terrorism. It is not always a fallout of a clash of civilisations. Nor does it have a theocratic basis or logic. A grand narrative of terrorism is an enticing theoretical construct. But a cursory look at the map of the world's terror hotspots reveals that nothing can be more misleading. The Basque nationalists and the Tamil Tigers cannot be clubbed together. Nor will the Shining Path in Peru fit the framework formulated to understand the Irish Republican Army. That said, one should not discount trade amongst terror groups. Alliances of disparate groups on grounds of ideology and commerce are common.

The quest for a grand unified theory of terrorism is futile. It will not lead to a correct diagnosis of the disease, forget finding a cure. Any offensive on the part of the state to thwart designs of terror is fraught with the danger of spawning more terror. More so when it identifies issues raised by perpetrators of terror as part of the act. A recent conference - Constructing Peace, Deconstructing Terror - in New Delhi has suggested a shift in the debate from terrorism to terrorist acts and groups. Rather than get bogged down by trying to define terrorism, an attempt should be made to delineate and target specific instances of terrorist acts and the people behind it. Iraqis and Chechens have the right to freedom. But that does not in any way justify the massacre of children in Beslan or the shooting of innocent Nepali labourers in Iraq. If the cause is genuine, respect it. But target acts of terror, punish its sponsors. Such an approach will enable the state to drain terrorism of nationalistic, cultural or religious emotions. Isolate the act and actors, negotiate on the grievance. That is how to gain the trust of civil society.