Counterterrorism and International Law

This chapter is an attempt at assessing the overall response provided by the international community, and the main normative strategies pursued by international law in countering international terrorism. To find concrete ways in which the coordination of norms and institutional policies can lead to the implementation of an effective holistic approach to fighting terrorism is the challenge lying ahead for the international community. The chapter argues that respect for human rights and the rule of law may play a central role in this process, by contributing to its legitimacy and increasing its chances of efficacy and stability in the long term. The other new challenge and the real paradigm shift, particularly at times of increasing terrorist violence, lies in thinking of counterterrorism as a precondition for economic growth and sustainable development.