NCJ Number
102220
Date Published
1986
Length
331 pages
Annotation
This book discusses terrorism's challenge to the basic values and processes of liberal democracies, terrorism causes, terrorism defenses available to liberal governments, and the growth and implications of international terrorism.
Abstract
Part I clarifies and refines the concept of political terrorism; establishes a working typology of political terrorism; and relates terrorism to other modes of violence and to the basic political values, structures, and processes of liberal democracy. Part II, the core of the book, addresses the special problems of revolutionary and subrevolutionary political terrorism in liberal democracies. It discusses the causes of terrorism in liberal states and assesses the influential causal and developmental theories and models of terrorism under these conditions. The ideologies, aims, beliefs, strategies, tactics, organizational structures, recruitment, and logistics of terrorist groups are examined, and their influence and efficacy are analyzed. Also discussed are potentially effective strategies of prevention, deterrence, internal and external defense, and counteroffensives available to liberal governments. Analyses of recent antiterrorist campaigns focus on the administrative, police, military, and psychological resources and tactics used. Part III addresses the specific terrorist problems of skyjacking, diplomatic kidnappings, embassy attacks, and assassinations, including cooperative measures that may be taken against these forms of attack. 21-item bibliography, chapter notes and references, and subject index.