NCJ Number
59777
Date Published
1979
Length
15 pages
Annotation
A DISCUSSION IS PROVIDED ON THE CONCEPT OF TERRORISM, THE ORIGINS OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM, AND SOME RECENT TRENDS AND WHAT THEY FORTELL ABOUT THE FUTURE COURSE OF TERRORISM.
Abstract
TERRORISTS ARE CONCERNED WITH ACHIEVING A DRAMATIC EFFECT TO CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE OF FEAR AND PANIC WHICH WILL CAUSE PEOPLE TO EXAGGERATE THE STRENGTH OF THE TERRORISTS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THEIR CAUSE. ALTHOUGH THE IDEA OF TERRORISM HAS EXISTED FOR CENTURIES, INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM HAS ONLY ARISEN RECENTLY DUE TO SEVERAL POLITICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS. THE FAILURE OF RURAL GUERRILLA MOVEMENTS IN LATIN AMERICA AND ARAB MILITARY POWER AGAINST ISRAEL HAVE CAUSE THESE DISCONTENTED GROUPS TO USE TERRORIST TACTICS TO ACHEIVE THEIR AIMS. STUDENT DISSIDENT GROUPS, ARISING OUT OF THE ANTI-VIETNAM CLIMATE OF THE 1960'S HAVE SPAWNED NUMEROUS EXTREMIST GROUPS DEDICATED TO VIOLENCE (E.G., THE BAADER-MEINHOF GANG IN WEST GERMANY AND THE UNITED RED ARMY IN JAPAN). IN ADDITION, THE INCREASING AVAILABILITY ON SOPHISTICATED WEAPONS, THE UNPRECEDENTED MOBILITY AFFORDED BY JET AIR TRAVEL, AND SOCIETY'S DEPENDENCE OF TECHNOLOGY AFFORD TERRORISTS OPPORTUNITIES TO FORMENT DISRUPTION. ALTHOUGH THE ACUTAL AMOUNT OF TERRORIST VIOLENCE HAS BEEN EXAGGERATED, TERRORISM IS MEASURED BY ITS ABILITY TO CREATE CRISES, BY THE ALARM IT CREATES, AND BY THE CONSEQUENCES IT HAS ON SOCIETY. THE USE OF TERRORIST TACTICS WILL PROBALY PERSIST AS A MODE OF POLITICAL EXPRESSION AND TO ACHIEVE LIMITED GOALS. IN LIGHT OF INCREASING GOVERNMENT RESOLVE NOT TO SUBMIT TO TERRORISTS, TACTICS USED BY THESE EXTREMISTS MUST EITHER CHANGE OR ESCALATE. GOVERNMENTS WILL CONTINUE TO DIVERT MANPOWER AND MONEY TO THE PROTECTION OF POTENTIAL POLITICAL TARGETS, A TREND POSSIBLY LEADING TOWARD INCREASED REPRESSION AND AUTHORITARIANISM. NO REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (WJR)