NCJ Number
62267
Editor(s)
J SHAW,
E F GUERITZ,
A E YOUNGER,
F GREGORY,
J PALMER
Date Published
1979
Length
196 pages
Annotation
THE PROCEEDINGS OF A SERIES OF MEETINGS SPONSORED BY THE ROYAL UNITED SERVICES INSTITUTE REPORT ON TERRORIST ACTIVITIES AFTER THE LATE 1960'S EMPHASIZES THE POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES OF TERRORISM IN DEMOCRACIES.
Abstract
BECAUSE THE PRIMARY SOCIAL SERVICE OF A STATE IS THE PROTECTION OF ITS CITIZENS, AND BECAUSE DEMOCRACIES MUST OPERATE WITH THE CONSENT OF THE PEOPLE, STUDIES ON TERRORISM SHOULD EXAMINE THE METHODS WHICH WILL RESOLVE CRISES WITHOUT DESTROYING DEMOCRACY. WRITING FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, THE CONTRIBUTORS OF THIS STUDY PRESENT CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVES ON THE PROPER RESPONSE TO TERRORISM AND ON THE EFFECTS OF WARFARE. TERRORISM IS A PROBLEM FOR THOSE SOCIETIES IN WHICH FREE EXPRESSION OF IDEAS INCLUDING POLITICAL PROTEST IS PARADOXICALLY ACCOMPANIED BY A SENSE OF POWERLESSNESS BY MANY PEOPLE. STUDIES INDICATE A STEADY CONTINUATION OF THE ASSAULT BY TERROR UPON DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS, AND THEY NOTE THAT THE ONLY VICTORIES OF TERRORISM HAVE BEEN WON OVER LIBERAL COUNTRIES. THE COLLECTED REPORTS DESCRIBE THE GROWTH OF A SPECIALIZED FORM OF PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE AS NOT MERELY A NATIONAL, BUT AN INTERNATIONAL PHENOMENON IN WHICH THIRD PARTIES ARE BLACKMAILED, ALONG WITH THE NEWS MEDIA, INTO MEETING TERRORIST DEMANDS. NONTERRITORIAL TERRORISM EMBRACES SUCH DIRECT ACTION AS HIJACKING AND USES LOGISTICAL AIDS AS FOREIGN WEAPONS AND SANCTUARIES. SPECIFIC TOPICS DISCUSSED INCLUDE INTERNATIONAL LAW, THE BRITISH MEDIA RESPONSE TO KIDNAPPING, AND THE POLITICAL PROBLEMS OF TERRORISM. THE REPORT SUGGESTS THAT IRONICALLY, WESTERN NATIONS HAVE PROBABLY SPENT TOO MUCH TIME AND MONEY PREPARING FOR A GLOBAL WAR THAT COULD NEVER BE WON, AND NOT ENOUGH CONFRONTING TERRORIST ACTIVITIES WHICH CONSTANTLY CHALLENGE DEMOCRACIES. PHOTOGRAPHS ARE INCLUDED. (TWK)