ORIGINS OF SECTARIAN ASSASSINATION - THE CASE OF BELFAST (NORTHERN IRELAND) (FROM INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM CURRENT RESEARCH AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS, P 41-53, 1980, BY ALAN D BUCKLEY AND DANIEL D OLSON - SEE NCJ-71072)

• NCJ Number: 69170
• Author(s): R N LEBOW
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 13 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; Avery Publishing Group, Inc; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

REASONS FOR SECTARIAN ASSASSINATION IN NORTHERN IRELAND ARE EXPLORED, AND THE VARIETY AND COMPLEXITY OF SUCH KILLING IN THE CITY OF BELFAST ARE ANALYZED.

Abstract

SECTARIAN ASSASSINATION IS DEFINED AS THE PREMEDITATED KILLING OF A MEMBER OF THE OPPOSING COMMUNITY MERELY BY REASON OF A PARTICULAR IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTIC. LARGELY IMPERSONAL, SECTARIAN ASSASSINATION OCCURS DUE TO A PERCEPTION OF THE VICTIM AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF AN ETHNIC, LINGUISTIC, OR RELIGIOUS GROUP, RATHER THAT DUE TO THE VICTIM'S PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES. IN BELFAST, SECTARIAN ASSASSINATION TAKES THE FORM OF LOW INTENSITY WARFARE BETWEEN THE PROTESTANT AND CATHOLIC COMMUNITIES. MOST COMMONLY, ASSASSINATION SQUADS OPERATE FROM CARS AND ABDUCT OR KILL VICTIMS ON THE FRINGES OF WORKING-CLASS GHETTOS. THE BELFAST EXPERIENCE SUGESTS THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN KINDS OF CONDITIONS WHICH ARE LIKELY TO FACILITATE SUCH VIOLENCE, INCLUDING AN ATTITUDE OF COMPLIANCE ON THE PART OF THE ASSASSINS' COMMUNITY; THE DEGREE OF COMMUNITY CONTROL EXERCISED BY EXTREMIST GROUPS, WHICH HAS PARALLELED TTE DECLINING POWER OF CENTRAL AUTHORITIES; AND THE EXISTENCE OF APPARENT POLITICAL-MILITARY STALEMATE. THIS VIOLENCE IS UNLIKELY TO DISAPPEAR IN THE ABSENCE OF A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT. YET, THE VIOLENCE POLARIZING THE TWO COMMUNITIES FURTHER DIMINISHES THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH A SETTLEMENT. THE ANALYSIS INCLUDES CHARACTERISTICS OF THE KILLERS AND THE VICTIMS. TABLES AND 25 REFERENCE NOTES ARE PROVIDED. FOR RELATED ARTICLES, SEE NCJ 69169. (PRG)