NCJ Number
62361
Journal
TECHNOLOGICAL FORECASTING AND SOCIAL CHANGE Volume: 14 Issue: 2 Dated: (1979) Pages: 135-146
Date Published
1979
Length
12 pages
Annotation
A SOCIAL-IMPACT PROJECTION OF TERRORISM IN THE UNITED STATES IS PRESENTED BY EXPLORING THE EFFECTS OF TERRORISM ON DEMOGRAPHY, SECURITY AND THE COST OF LIVING, THE LAW, PARAMILITARY GROUPS, AND MENTAL HEALTH.
Abstract
'REVOLUTIONARY TERROR' UPSETS THE STRUCTURE OF EVERYDAY LIFE AND RUINS PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE GOVERNMENT'S ABILITY TO ENSURE A REASONABLY SANE AND SECURE EXISTENCE FOR ITS CITIZENS. OPEN, INDUSTRALIZED SOCIETIES LIKE THE UNITED STATES ARE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO ORGANIZED, TERRORIST TACTICS BECAUSE (1) 'NORMAL' LIFE RESTS ON A NETWORK OF INTERDEPENDENT SOCIOECONOMIC INTERCHANGES VULNERABLE AT MANY POINTS TO CRIPPLING TERRORIST ATTACKS (UTILITIES, TRANSPORT, COMMUNICATIONS, MAIL, ETC.); (2) OFFICIAL REACTIONS ARE LIMITED BY LAWS WEIGHTED TOWARD RESTRAINED INTERVENTION BY OFFICIALS IN THE PRIVATE LIVES AND ROUTINES OF CITIZENS; (3) A RATIONAL LIFE OF SECURITY AND COMFORT IS TAKEN FOR GRANTED, SUCH THAT A DISRUPTION OF THIS STRUCTURE BY IRRATIONAL AND THREATENING FORCES WOULD BE PARTICULARLY DISORIENTING AND CATACLYSMIC; AND (4) OFFICIAL REACTIONS TO TERRORISM LIKELY TO BE MOST EFFECTIVE WOULD REQUIRE RADICAL CHANGES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT OR MILITARY/PUBLIC INTERACTION. THE MOST PRONOUNCED EFFECTS OF TERRORISM WOULD BE IN DEMOGRAPHY (PATTERNS OF SETTLEMENT AND COMMERCE), SECURITY AND THE COST OF LIVING (REFLECTING THE INCREASED COSTS OF ADOPTING SECURITY MEASURES THAT ASSUME THE LIKELIHOOD OF A TERRORIST ATTACK AT MANY PUBLIC FACILITIES), LAW (CHANGES TOWARD INCREASED INTERVENTION IN CITIZENS' ROUTINES), PARAMILITARY GROUPS (CITIZEN REACTION TO PERCEIVED TERRORIST THREATS NOT COUNTERED BY PUBLIC OFFICIALS), AND MENTAL HEALTH (THE AGGRAVATION AND STIMULATION OF LATENT NEUROSES AND PSYCHOSES BY THE FEAR OCCASIONED BY TERRORISM). A SUSTAINED AND EXPANDING CLIMATE OF TERRORISM POSES A 'NO-WIN' SITUATION FOR OPEN SOCIETIES, BECAUSE THE MOST EFFECTIVE REACTION TO TERRORISM IS A SWIFT AND MASSIVE ATTACK TO UPROOT THE PERPETRATORS, WHILE REMAINING UNYIELDING IN NONACQUIESCENCE TO TERRORIST DEMANDS. SUCH ACTION INEVITABLY LEADS TO AN OVERALL CLOSURE OF SOCIETY. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)