NCJ Number
45312
Editor(s)
W P LINEBERRY
Date Published
1977
Length
203 pages
Annotation
THE NATURE OF MODERN TERRORISM, ITS HISTORICAL BACKGROUND, IMPLICATIONS FOR MODERN SOCIETY, AND ACTIONS TAKEN OR PROPOSED TO BRING IT TO A HALT ARE EXAMINED.
Abstract
HOW SERIOUS THE PROBLEM OF TERRORISM REALLY IS, HOW FAR GOVERNMENTS SHOULD GO IN DEALING WITH IT, WHAT CAUSES IT, WHAT FEEDS ITS GROWTH, WHETHER IT IS EVER MORALLY JUSTIFIED, AND WHAT THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM SAYS ABOUT THE MORAL STATE OF SOCIETY IN GENERAL ARE SOME OF THE ISSUES ADDRESSED. THE NATURE OF TERRORISM IS EXAMINED, AND ITS HISTORY IS TRACED BACK TO THE TIME OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION. THE PHENOMENON OF TERRORISM IS EXPLORED IN DETAIL, WITH CONSIDERATION OF ALL ITS VARIETIES IN EVIDENCE UP UNTIL 1977, FROM TRAIN AND AIRPLANE HIJACKINGS TO THE MASSACRE OF ISRAELI ATHLETES AT THE 1972 OLYMPIC GAMES IN MUNICH. A DISCUSSION OF DIFFERING VIEWS ON THE MORAL JUSTIFICATION FOR TERRORISM AND ITS EFFECTIVENESS CONSIDERS THE TERRORISTS THEMSELVES, THEIR MOTIVES, AND THEIR VICTIMS. EFFORTS CURRENTLY UNDER WAY TO COMBAT TERRORISM ARE EVALUATED, INCLUDING AIRPORT SECURITY PRECAUTIONS, INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS TO EXTRADITE ALL TERRORISTS TO THE COUNTRY WHERE THE CRIME WAS COMMITTED, AND THE GROWING POLICY AMONG EUROPEAN AND MIDDLE EASTERN NATIONS NOT TO YIELD TO TERRORISTS' DEMANDS. ANALYSES OF POSSIBLE MEASURES WHICH COULD BE TAKEN IN THE FUTURE INCLUDE THE ROLE OF THE UNITED NATIONS IN THE ADOPTION OF MEASURES BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, DEMONSTRATIONS THAT A 'NO-CONCESSIONS' POLICY CAN BE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE, AND AN ARTICLE STRESSING THE DANGERS OF OVER-PROTECTION TO A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY.