NCJ Number
45426
Journal
STANFORD JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES Volume: 12 Dated: (SPRING 1977) Pages: 147-156
Date Published
1977
Length
10 pages
Annotation
AFTER A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE GROWING GLOBAL MOTIVATION FOR POLITICAL TERRORISM, VARIOUS RESPONSES TO THE PROBLEM AND STRATEGIES FOR ITS CONTAINMENT ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
ONLY THE MORE RECENT REVOLUTIONARY TERRORISM USED BY NONSTATE ACTORS OPERATING IN A TRANSNATIONAL MEDIUM TO REALIZE DEFINITE POLITICAL GOALS IS CONSIDERED. SUCH TERRORISM, IF UNBRIDLED, COULD PROVE DISASTROUS TO WORLD ORDER. THE TERRORIST'S PERCEPTION OF POLITICAL OPPRESSION IS SEEN AS GLOBAL, WITH ALL PEOPLE, IF ONLY BY DEFAULT, GUILTY AND LIABLE TO VICTIMIZATION. THE INCREASE IN TERRORISM IS TRACED TO THE INCREASED POLITICIZATION OF PEOPLES AND THEIR GROWING ECONOMIC STRENGTH. IT ALSO ACCOMPANIES THE CURRENT RISE IN NATIONALISM AS A REACTION TO INCREASING INTERNATIONALISM. FACTORS WHICH PROMOTE TERRORISM ARE THE DRASTIC AND INCONSISTENT REACTION OF THE PUBLIC, THE USES OF TERRORISM BY STATES AS AN INEXPENSIVE FORM OF WARFARE FOR THEIR OWN ENDS, AND OUR MANY TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES AS TO NEW WEAPONS, FASTER TRANSPORT SYSTEMS, MORE VULNERABLE URBAN POPULATIONS, BETTER COMMUNICATION, AND THE MEDIA PROVISION OF MODELS FOR IMITATION. THE FAILURE OF INTERNATIONAL LEGAL RESPONSES TO TERRORISM IS CITED WITH INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS OFTEN IGNORED. MORE IMPORTANTLY, STATES DISAGREE WHETHER TERRORISTS ARE CRIMINALS OR FREEDOM FIGHTERS. A LESS COMPREHENSIVE LEGAL APPROACH IS MORE PRACTICAL. UNILATERAL OR MULTILATERAL RESPONSES SUCH AS THE USE OF ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE, EXCHANGE OF INTELLIGENCE DATA, SANCTIONS AGAINST STATES, AND EVEN THE SACRIFICE OF INDIVIDUAL VICTIMS ARE MORE EXPEDIENT STRATEGIES FOR CONTAINING TERRORISM. ALTOGETHER, TERRORISM IS SEEN AS A GROWING THREAT TO ACCEPTED VALUES AND PRACTICES, WHICH WE CAN AT BEST HOPE TO CONTAIN. NOTES ARE PROVIDED. (FCW)