Modern Islamic terrorists are made, not born. The route to terrorism begins with a feeling that something is wrong that needs to be set right. This can be a real problem or merely a perceived injustice (or both).

The second stage is the feeling that the problem cannot be solved without recourse to a mode of action beyond those provided by a given society's political or legal framework. The next stage changes the individual from being an activist, even a militant, into a terrorist.

It involves the acceptance of an ideology and a worldview that allows the powerful social barriers that stop most people from committing acts of violence to be overcome. It means that the individuals feel compelled to do appalling things.

The root cause of modern Islamic militancy are the various reasons for the grievances that are the first step on the road to terrorism. It is not a question of absolute deprivation but of how deprivation is perceived.

Such problems are growing more - not less - widespread and profound throughout the Islamic world. The economies of nations from Morocco to Indonesia are in a terrible state. Population growth may be slowing but more than half of all Pakistanis and Iranians are under 20 years old.

Egypt's population is predicted to grow by a quarter between 2000-2015. Saudi Arabia's is likely to rise by more than 50 percent in the next 10 years. Unemployment is acute and real wages are stagnant.

Growth in the Middle East during the 1990s has been under one percent. For hundreds of millions of people in the Islamic world, housing and sanitation are grossly inadequate. Most cities are on the way to joining 'failed states' as locations of endemic anarchy, violence and alienation.

But these problems alone do not cause terrorism. If individuals have faith in a political system, a belief that they can change their lives through activism that is sanctioned by the state, they are unlikely to turn to militancy.

But there is little reason to be optimistic about the possible alternatives that might divert the angry or alienated from radical Islam in the near future. Only in a few Gulf states has there been any genuine move towards reform in recent years.

In Saudi Arabia, political reform is still unlikely. The fundamental compact between the house of al-Saud and the Wahhabi ulama remains strong. Nor does it look like there will be any genuine reform in Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Syria, Jordan or central Asia.

One of the reasons for the evolution of radical, debased and violent forms of protest is the tendency of governments in the Islamic world to repress moderate movements. This creates a vicious circle. Because they are scared of radical Islam taking power, the regimes block democratic reform. Because there is no reform, radical Islam grows in support.

And this is the crucial third stage that turns an angry and frustrated young man into a terrorist. This is the moment when an individual begins to conceive of doing something more than shouting slogans or waving banners.

And it is here that the 'al-Qaedaist' ideology and worldview is so important. To overcome the behavioural norms that restrain most balanced citizens from acts of horrific brutality, a powerful legitimising discourse is needed.

The ideologues of modern 'Jihadi Salafi' Islamic radicalism, with their view of a cosmic struggle between good and evil, provide one. Kurdish suicide bombers speak of how their lessons at an Afghan training camp helped them understand why 'things were not right in the world'.

Pakistani militants describe how accepting the radical Islamic worldview was like receiving 'a revelation'. Suddenly, they comprehended why all the 'bad things happened'.

The power of Osama bin Laden's discourse is that, like Marxism, it explains a personal experience by reference to a convincing general theory and then provides a comprehensible programme of action.

By explaining 'injustice' it justifies inhuman actions. This legitimising discourse, the critical element that converts a young man into a human bomb, is now everywhere. You will see it on the Internet, hear it from your friends, or read it in a newspaper.

The spread of suicide bombings to places such as Kashmir, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan shows how pervasive the 'al-Qaedaist' worldview has now become. It is more than likely that the US will eventually apprehend Osama.

Unfortunately, his removal will not stop Islamic militancy.