MODERN GUERRILLA WARFARE AND TERRORISM (FROM TERRORISM INVESTIGATIONS OF STRATEGY AND STRUCTURE OF REVOLUTIONARY POLITICAL POWER, 1977, BY MANFRED FUNKE - SEE NCJ-53136)

• NCJ Number: 53141
• Author(s): W HAHLWEG
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 21 pages
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: German
• Country: West Germany (Former)

Annotation

THEORETICAL ASPECTS OF MODERN GUERRILLA WARFARE AND INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

A REVIEW OF CURRENT LITERATURE INDICATES THAT TERRORISM IS NOTHING NEW BUT HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES AND BECAUSE OF ITS CLOSE CONNECTIONS TO A WIDE VARIETY OF GUERRILLA MOVEMENTS. SUCH MOVEMENTS ARISE WHEN INDIVIDUALS FEEL OPPRESSED BY A SYSTEM OF DOMINATION; RESISTANCE LEADS TO TOTAL REJECTION OF THE SYSTEM BY INDIVIDUALS AND TO A PHILOSOPHY STRESSING THE NEED FOR VERSATILITY AND FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNOLOGICAL SKILLS, INCLUDING USE OF MICROCOMPUTERS AND ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS. THE CONSEQUENCE HAS BEEN THE CREATION OF A GUERRILLA THEORY WITH REALITY AS ITS CENTRAL CONCERN; THE THEORY HAS OF NECESSITY BEEN VERY GENERAL AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF MATERIAL AND FORMAL LOGIC AND TO DIALECTICS. ACCORDING TO THE THEORY OF GUERRILLA WARFARE, THE MANY FORMS OF REVOLUTIONARY STRUGGLE ARE SITUATION-SPECIFIC, WITH SOCIALISTIC, IDEOLOGICAL, AND ANARCHISTIC COMPONENTS AS WELL AS NATIONALISTIC TENDENCIES THAT EMPLOY MOBILE, SMALL-GROUP FIGHTING TACTICS. SUCCESS OF MOVEMENTS IS DEPENDENT ON APPROPRIATE COMBAT TECHNIQUES, ON THE SUITABILITY OF TIME AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS FOR GUERRILLA ACTIONS, AND ON THE AMOUNT OF SYMPATHY FROM THE GENERAL POPULACE. COUNTERGUERILLAS (E.G., ISRAELI UNITS AND AMERICAN SPECIAL FORCES) HAVE DEVELOPED SPECIAL METHODS TO DEAL WITH THE LATEST GUERRILLA INITIATIVES. GUERRILLA WARFARE IS PRIMARILY A POLITICAL MATTER. POLITICIANS MUST STUDY GUERRILLA PRACTICE AND THEORY TO UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF TERRORIST PROBLEMS. THE SITUATION IS COMPLICATED BY THE FACT THAT LAWS AND TERRORSTS ARE ACTING ON DIFFERENT IDEOLOGICAL LEVELS AND THAT THE MOTIVES OF TERRORISTS ARE DIFFICULT TO ASSESS; FURTHERMORE, NO STRUGGLE AGAINST TERRORISM IS POSSIBLE WITHOUT INVOLVING ORDINARY CITIZENS. AS A MANIFESTATION OF VIOLENCE, GUERRILLA WARFARE RUNS THE RISK OF ESTABLISHING A VICIOUS CIRCLE OF TERROR AND COUNTERTERROR WHICH ELIMINATES POSSIBILITIES FOR DISCUSSION AND COMPROMISE. EXTENSIVE NOTES ARE PROVIDED. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)