NCJ Number
63598
Date Published
1977
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT SUMMARIZES A GROUP DISCUSSION AMONG PANELISTS WHO PRESENTED PAPERS ON EMERGECNCY PREPAREDNESS AND TECHNOLOGICAL ISSUES IN DEALING WITH TERRORISM AT AN INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON TERRORISM RESEARCH.
Abstract
DISCUSSANTS AGREED THAT FULL DOCUMENTATION OF THE 1,000 CASES OF POLITICAL TERRORISM IS LACKING. IN ADDITION, THEY CONCLUDED THAT ACTUAL EVENTS HAVE BEEN EMPHASIZED; POTENTIAL OR POSSIBLE THREATS, DEEMPHASIZED. A MAIN ISSUE RECOGNIZED WAS THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECT OF TERRORISM AND THE NEED TO UNDERSTAND IT. PARTICIPANTS ALSO AGREED ON THE NEED TO CLASSIFY TERRORISM IN TERMS OF TARGETS, CIRCUMSTANCES, RESPONSE CAPACITY, ORGANIZATION, AND PERSONNEL. INTELLIGENCE GATHERING, BOTH BEFORE AND DURING EVENTS, WAS ANOTHER AREA OF CONCERN. CRIMINOLOGY HAS MUCH KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE TO OFFER THOSE STUDYING OR DEALING WITH TERRORISM. THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MEDICAL RESCUE SERVICE AS PART OF PREPAREDNESS AGAINST TERRORIST ATTACKS WAS DEEMED DESIRABLE AS PART OF THE WHOLE NETWORK OF CITIZEN SERVICES. DIFFERENCES AMONG SUCH TERMS AS POLITICAL CRIME, IDEOLOGICAL CRIME, TRANSNATIONAL IDEOLOGICAL CRIME, AND TERRORISM WERE DISCUSSED. DISCUSSANTS SUGGESTED (1) CONSIDERATION OF TARGET DISPERSAL DUE TO THE VULNERABILITY OF MODERN SOCIETY TO ATTACKS, (2) STUDY OF MODERN SOCIETIES AS CONTRIBUTORS TO THE RISE AND PERSISTENCE OF TERRORISM, (3) CONSIDERATION OF TERRORISM AS A MIRROR FOR LEGITIMIZED VIOLENCE BY GOVERNMENTS AND OTHER ENTITIES, AND (4) USE OF PETER HAMILTON'S TAXONOMY (SEE NCJ-63600) TO DEVELOP TERRORISM RESEARCH STRATEGIES. FOR OTHER PAPERS FROM THE SAME SEMINAR, SEE NCJ-63591-63597, 63599, AND 63600. (CFW)