Socio-Physicochemical Theory on Terror & Terrorism

Terror is interpreted in physicochemical terminology as an oxidant which has the potential to remove or decrease free energy from the reaction/interaction site, thereby inducing oxidative stress, creating explosive situation, increasing entropy or randomness, and completely shifting the equilibrium to targeted side. Terrorism in Socio-Physicochemical terminology is the mechanism by which terror operates; in general it describes transfer/exchange of energy during spontaneous reactions of an oxidant with a target that may or may not be prepared for the shock.

The aftermath of terror is behavioural response to physical and emotional danger. In accord with Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion, response to terror is an equivalent but opposite physical force, which implies that terror begets terror in one or the other form. Terrorism generally results in spontaneous decrease of internal energy –∆H°⁄RT (order) and increase in ∆S°⁄R (disorder/entropy), both varying with the level of severity and spontaneity of interaction. Hence the free energy minimum (at constant T and P) representing the most satisfactory compromise for sustainable living in a serene environment can be attained by maintaining the natural balance between enthalpy and entropy. Now that the different factions in the DG deficient countries are in conflict with one another, the order in their society has decreased to disorder and chaos leading to what appears as going into decadence. The status of compactness of the better ordered social system is put to stake.

Application of the Universal Law of Equilibrium to terrorism suggests that on incidence of terror the terrorized prepares for and is in readiness for defense. This action is due to the realization that terror will sooner or later beget terror and hence there will be an urgent need for readjustment. Restoration of equilibrium is generally sought by considering offence as the best defense. That however has been found to set a vicious circle in motion and instead of annihilating or even containing the impact of terrorism, the vicious circle remains in perpetuation.

Keywords: socio-physicochemical theory, society, terror, terrorism