NCJ Number
46988
Journal
Dissent Volume: 24, Dated: (FALL 1977) Pages: 433-436
Date Published
1977
Length
4 pages
Annotation
ASPECTS OF VIOLENCE AND TERRORISM DIRECTED AT BASICALLY DEMOCRATIC PEOPLES AND NATIONS ARE CONSIDERED.
Abstract
A DISTINCTION IS MADE BETWEEN FORCE, THAT IS VIOLENCE USED BY A DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE OR NATION IN DEFENSE OF THEIR POLITICAL SYSTEM AND THE NATURE OF TERRORISM, GUERRILLA WARFARE, OR VIGILANTISM. DEMOCRATIC AND WELFARE STATES MAINTAIN AND DEFEND INSTITUTIONAL AND PRACTICES THAT INVOLVE SUBSTANTIAL INEQUALITIES BOTH OF REWARDS AND OPPORTUNITIES. SINCE THE STATE IS PREPARED TO DEFEND THESE INEQUALITIES BY FORCE IF NECESSARY, THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS OFTEN CHARACTERIZED AS ONE OF INSTITUTIONALIZED VIOLENCE. THOSE USING THIS DESCRIPTOR TEND TO IGNORE THAT THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF VIOLENCE IN A DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM IS THE MOST RESPONSIBLE WAY TO CONTAIN TERRORISM. TERRORIST ARE VIEWED BY SOME AS UNSELFISHLY DEVOTED PATRIOTS WILLING TO RISK LIFE, FREEDOM, AND THE PURSUIT OF A 'NORMAL' LIFESTYLE, IN FAVOR OF THE CAUSE OF THEIR PEOPLE. HOWEVER, THE LIFE OF A TERRORIST, RISKY AS IT SOMETIMES IS, HAS ITS REWARDS. THESE INCLUDE POWER, THE EGO SATISFACTION DERIVED FROM BEARING A GUN, A CERTAIN KIND OF GLAMOUR AND PRESTIGE, MONEY, AND FREEDOM FROM ROUTINES AND RESTRAINTS NORMALLY IMPOSED BY SOCIETY. FOR SOME PERSONALITIES, THESE REWARDS ARE IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO ATTRACT THEM TO A LIFE OF TERRORIST ACTIVITIES, EVEN AFTER THE INITIAL OBJECTIVE HAS BEEN OBTAINED. THE SECURITY FORCES, THE POLICE WITH THE ARMY IN RESERVE, ARE THE FRONTLINE IN THE STRUGGLE AGAINST ANTIDEMOCRATIC TERRORISM, VICTORY DEPENDS ON THE DEGREE TO WHICH SOCIETY VIEWS THE TERRORIST AS AN ENEMY, AND ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE PREPARED TO RUN SOME DEGREE OF RISK IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THIS ENEMY. MEDIA RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS AREA IS EXTREMELY COMPLEX. THE TERRORIST DERIVES SUSTENANCE FROM THE PECULIAR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MEDIA; VIOLENCE IS NEWS, AND THE GREATER THE ATROCITY, THE GREATER THE PUBLICITY WHICH IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE TERRIRIST STRATEGY. TO ASK THE MEDIA FOR VOLUNTARY RESTRAINT IS PROBABLY FUTILE, AND TO RESTRICT THE MEDIA MAY INADVERTANTLY AID THE TERRORIST CAUSE AS IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT A GOAL OF TERRORISM IS TO CAUSE BASICALLY DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENTS, IN THE NAME OF ANTITERRORISM, TO OPPRESS RIGHTS SUCH AS FREEDOM OF THE PRESS. THE BEST WAY FOR A DEMOCRACY TO DEAL WITH POLITICAL VIOLENCE IS TO IGNORE ITS SUPPOSEDLY POLITICAL CHARACTER AND CONCENTRATE ON THE CRIMINAL ASPECTS AS AN ARMED CONSPIRACY. APPREHENSION, CONVICTION, AND IMPRISONMENT SHOULD BE THE FOCUS, NOT PEACEFUL NEGOTIATIONS. THERE IS ULTIMATELY NO WAY OF BEATING TERRORISTS, EXCEPT BY MAKING IT CLEAR THAT THEY HAVE NO CHANCE OF BOTH ACCOMPLISHING THEIR OBJECTIVE VIOLENTLY AND STILL SURVIVING. (KBL)