PROLEGOMENA TO A PSYCHOHISTORICAL STUDY OF TERRORISM (FROM INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM IN THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD, 1978, BY MARIUS LIVINGSTON - SEE NCJ-52737)

• NCJ Number: 52747
• Author(s): J A DOWLING
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: Greenwood Publishing Group
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

PSYCHOHISTORICAL ASPECTS OF TERRORISM ARE STUDIED, WITH TERRORISM DEFINED TO ENCOMPASS A WIDE RANGE OF VIOLENT OR LAWLESS ACTS FROM SKYJACKING THROUGH BOMBING TO KIDNAPPINGS AND ASSASSINATIONS.

Abstract

TERRORISM APPEARS TO INCLUDE PRACTICALLY ANY TYPE OF VIOLENCE INVOLVING SOME INTERFERENCE WITH THE GENERAL FUNCTIONING OF SOCIETY. IT DOES NOT SEEM TO INCLUDE GANG FIGHTS, MUGGINGS, AND OTHER SUCH PERSONAL VIOLENT ACTS. TERRORISM DEVELOPED WITHIN THE ANARCHIST ELEMENT OF THE 19TH CENTURY REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENT. THE FIRST GREAT DISCIPLE OF 'PROPAGANDA BY THE DEED' WAS BAKUNIN IN RUSSIA. ANARCHISM AND TERRORISM TENDED TO FADE AWAY IN NORTHWEST EUROPE AFTER THE FAILURE OF THE PARIS COMMUNE IN FRANCE. IN ITALY AND SPAIN, ENDEMIC AGRARIAN DISTRESS, REINFORCED BY THE IMPACT OF INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES ON AN ARTISAN CLASS, CARRIED ON THE BELIEF IN INSURRECTION AND ACTS OF TERRORISM. THE BELIEF IN PROPAGANDA BY THE DEED NOT ONLY PROVIDED FOR THE REMOVAL OF AN OPPRESSIVE INDIVIDUAL OR INSTITUTION BUT ALSO THE UNRAVELING OF SOCIETY. TERRORISM IS NOT SIMPLY THE ACT OF A DEMENTED FEW; IT REPRESENTS A DEEPER ENDEMIC IMPULSE AGAINST REPRESSION IN ITS MOST FUNDAMENTAL SENSE. TERRORISM INCREASES AMONG POLITICAL ACTIVISTS AND AMONG PSYCHOPATHS IN DIRECT RATIO TO CONTROL AND RATIONALIZATION IN A TECHNETRONIC SOCIETY AND IN VIEW OF THE SEEMING FAILURE OF OTHER REVOLUTIONARY ACTIVITIES. PSYCHOHISTORICAL PARADIGMS THAT HAVE BEEN OFFERED AS EXPLANATIONS FOR THE ANARCHIST-TERRORIST PHENOMENON ARE DESCRIBED. NOTES ARE PROVIDED. (DEP)