iajlIAJLIAJL2709-9490https://doi.org/10.47310/iajl.2021.v02i01.009Human Rights and Terrorism: Deterrence and Legitimacy Theories and Effectiveness of Law Enforcement and Military Counter-terrorism InitiativesDonovanA.McFarlaneThe John J. Brunetti Human Trafficking Academy, St. Thomas University College of Law, Miami Gardens, Florida, USAThis research explores the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of deterrence theory with respect to military and law enforcement counter-terrorism initiatives and compares it to legitimacy theory with respect to causal counter-terrorism initiatives. The researcher defines the concepts of deterrence and legitimacy in the counter-terrorism context and discusses their applicability to law enforcement and military counter-terrorism models. In further examining counter-terrorism practices, the researcher discusses how the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action at the 1993 World Conference on Human Rights ushered in a new age of counter-terrorism initiatives, a new way of looking at terrorism and a new tool kit of vertical responses to the threat of terrorism. Particular attention is given to how the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action at the 1993 World Conference on Human Rights altered counter-terrorism activity during the second stage of modern terrorism from the first stage and the effects of this approach during the third stage of counter-terrorism. Finally, the researcher describes the different types of terrorist groups, their interaction with other groups and provides examples of each while explaining how classification of terrorist organizations and groups helps to provide insights into methods of combating terrorism.