NCJ Number
63587
Journal
GOVERNMENT AND OPPOSITION Volume: 8 Issue: 3 Dated: (SUMMER 1973) Pages: 290-312
Date Published
1973
Length
23 pages
Annotation
QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE NATURE OF TERROR, ITS MAJOR FORMS, AND CAUSES ARE EXPLORED AS PART OF AN ANALYSIS OF THE SUBJECT.
Abstract
THIS STUDY EXAMINES THREE QUESTIONS NECESSARY TO FURTHER ANALYSIS OF TERROR: (1) HOW TERRORISM IS DEFINED AND WHAT DIFFERENTIATES IT FROM OTHER FORMS OF ORGANIZED VIOLENCE, (2) WHAT MAJOR FORMS TERRORISM TAKES, AND (3) WITH THE AID OF COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS AND HISTORICAL LITERATURE, WHAT CAUSES CAN BE DEDUCED? AMORALITY DISTINGUISHES TERROR FROM OTHER FORMS OF ORGANIZED VIOLENCE. EXAMPLES OF THIS ARE GIVEN INCLUDING THE 19TH CENTURY RUSSIAN NARODNAYA VOLYA, THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY (IRA) PROVISIONALS, AND ARAB GUERRILLA GROUPS OPERATING TODAY. JUDGMENTS OF AMORALITY SHOULD BE MADE ONLY ON AUTHENTICATED EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE. THE DISCUSSION OF THE MAJOR FORMS OF TERRORISM INCLUDES THE GENERAL CONTEXT AND FORMS USED, CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO TERROR, AND FACTORS TENDING TO INHIBIT OR REDUCE TERROR. THE MAJOR FORMS AND EXAMPLES OF EACH ARE (1) WAR TERROR, EXEMPLIFIED BY THE ACTS OF THE VIKINGS, GERMAN ACTIVITIES IN THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR, AND THE STRATEGIC BOMBING OF NORTH VIET NAM; (2) REPRESSIVE TERROR, SUCH AS FORCED COLLECTIVIZATION IN THE SOVIET UNION; AND (3) REVOLUTIONARY TERROR, EXEMPLIFIED BY THE IRA, RECOUNTED IN NOVELS BY CAMUS AND MALRAUX, AND DEBATED BY GUERRILLA THEORISTS SUCH AS CHE GUEVARA. RECENT KEY TRENDS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF REVOLUTIONARY TERRORISM ARE SUMMARIZED, INCLUDING THE PROLIFERATION OF SECRET SOCIETIES SPECIALIZING IN TERROR AND ALOOF FROM THE BROAD-BASED GUERRILLA MOVEMENTS, MORE DARING METHODS OF EXTRACTING CONCESSIONS, EXPROPRIATION OF FUNDS, LIBERATION OF PRISONERS, AND CAPTURE OF ARMS. THESE INCLUDE HIJACKING, KIDNAPPING, ASSASSINATION, GREATER INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN TRAINING AND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT OF TERRORIST GROUPS, AND SOPHISTICATED WEAPONS. SOME CONTRIBUTORY CAUSES OF TERRORISM INCLUDE WEAPONS DEVELOPMENT AND AVAILABILITY, REVOLUTIONARY WAR AS A SURROGATE FOR GENERAL WAR, AND AN IDEOLOGICAL FANATICISM THAT JUSTIFIES AND GLORIFIES VIOLENCE, OFTEN AIMED AT FOSTERING RACIAL AND CLASS HATREDS. THE STUDY CONCLUDES THAT FEW OF THESE CAUSES APPEAR AMENABLE TO INTERNATIONAL OR NATIONAL JUDICIAL OR POLITICAL MEASURES. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (RFC)