NCJ Number
48738
Date Published
1978
Length
7 pages
Annotation
THE THEORY THAT GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURES EVOLVE TO MEET PARTICULAR THREATS IS DEVELOPED AND APPLIED TO THE ACTUAL AND POTENTIAL THREAT OF TERRORISM TO THE STRUCTURES OF THE MODERN STATE.
Abstract
THE WEAPONRY AVAILABLE TO THE MODERN TERRORIST AND THE VULNERABILITY OF THE SURVIVAL NETWORKS OF INDUSTRIALIZED AND POSTINDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS GIVES CONTEMPORARY TERRORISM AN UNCOMMON EXTRANATIONAL POWER, REQUIRING GOVERNMENTS TO ADOPT PATTERNS OF DEFENSE THAT MAY SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGE A SOCIETY'S GOVERNING STYLES. THIS BASIC THESIS IS EXPLORED WITH CONJECTURES ABOUT POSSIBLE DEFENSE PATTERNS THAT MAY EVOLVE AGAINST TERRORISM IN THE FUTURE. THE FLEXIBILITY AND UNPREDICTABILITY OF TERRORIST ACTIVITY IS NOTED AS A PARTICULAR PROBLEM FOR NATIONS GEARED FOR DEFENSE AGAINST LARGE SCALE ATTACKS FROM NATIONS IN A GIVEN LOCATION. THE TERRORISTS' MOBILE LIFESTYLE, UNPREDICTABLE TARGETING, IMMUNITY TO MORAL APPEALS, AND ABSENCE OF LOCALIZED TRIBAL IDENTITY PRESENTS A CHARACTER OF THREAT THAT MANY MODERN STATES ARE NOT EQUIPPED TO HANDLE. THE WEAPONS TECHNOLOGY INCREASINGLY AVAILABLE TO TERRORISTS MAKES IT CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR GOVERNMENTS TO THWART TERRORIST OPERATIONS PRIOR TO THE FINAL EXECUTION STAGE. IT IS INDICATED THAT SUCH DEFENSE TACTICS REQUIRE EXTENSIVE INTELLIGENCE WORK THAT WILL INEVITABLY STRAIN AND EVENTUALLY VIOLATE THE PRIVACY MANDATES OF MANY SOCIETIES. THE EXPANSION OF EXTENSIVE PRIVATE SECURITY SYSTEMS, PERHAPS REQUIRING EXTENSIVE GOVERNMENT REGULATION, IS ALSO PREDICTED AS A RESPONSE TO TERRORIST OPERATIONS. IT IS THOUGHT THAT A 'SIEGE MENTALITY' UNFAMILIAR TO THE CITIZENRIES OF MANY NATIONS MAY CAUSE CITIZENS TO PRESS FOR MORE TOTALITARIAN DECISIONMAKING STRUCTURES FOR THEIR GOVERNMENTS. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)