DECADE OF THE TERRORIST

• NCJ Number: 55287
• Journal: INTELLECT Volume: 106 Issue: 2397 Dated: (JUNE 1978) Pages: 457-459
• Author(s): T H SNITCH
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 3 pages
• Corporate Author: Soc for the Advancement of Education
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE HISTORY OF TERRORIST ACTIVITY, THE GENERAL AIMS OF TERRORIST GROUPS IN THE PAST DECADE, AND CERTAIN COUNTERMEASURES ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

THE ROOTS OF MODERN TERRORISM CAN BE TRACED TO 19TH-CENTURY CZARIST RUSSIA AND A GROUP OF RUSSIAN POPULISTS KNOWN AS THE PEOPLE'S WILL. THROUGH A STRATEGY OF VIOLENCE AND POLITICAL ASSASSINATION, THIS GROUP BECAME A MODEL FOR SUBSEQUENT CLANDESTINE REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENTS. THE MOST COMMON FORM OF TERRORISM WITHIN THE THE LAST DECADE, HOWEVER, HAS DIRECTED ITS ATTACKS AGAINST CIVILIAN POPULATIONS IN AN EFFORT TO PRODUCE PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS AND FEELINGS OF VULNERABILITY IN THE GENERAL POPULACE. FURTHER, TERRORIST ACTIVITIES AIM AT ACHIEVING INTERCONNECTING GOALS THROUGH THEIR VIOLENT ACTS. ACTIONS AGAINST CIVILIAN POPULATIONS PRECIPITATE MEDIA COVERAGE AND RECOGNITION OF A TERRORIST GROUP'S AIMS. A GOVERNMENT MAY THEN TAKE ACTION AGAINST THE TERRORIST, GRANTING THEM A TYPE OF TEMPORARY PSEUDOLEGITIMACY. IF THE GOVERNMENT OVERREACTS, IT CAUSES FURTHER TERRORIST RESISTANCE AND RECRUITMENT INTO THE TERRORIST GROUP. THE OVERALL AIM OF TERRORISM IS TO CREATE SUFFICIENT UNREST AND INSTABILITY SO AS TO PRECIPITATE POLITICAL CHANGE. TERRORISM IS SPAWNED BY A PERCEIVED SENSE OF RELATIVE DEPRIVATION, THE GENERAL APPEAL OF VIOLENCE AS A REACTION TO PERCEIVED OPPRESSION, AND THE LOW RISKS INVOLVED IN A TERRORIST OPERATION. THE TRANSNATIONAL OPERATIONS OF TERRORIST GROUPS CAN BE EFFECTIVELY COUNTERED ONLY THROUGH INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN MATTERS OF LEGISLATION, ENFORCEMENT PRACTICES, AND INTELLIGENCE SHARING. AGREEMENT ON THE ELIMINATION OF SANCTUARIES FOR TERRORISTS WOULD BE A VALUABLE FIRST STEP. IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH AGREEMENTS ENTEBBE-TYPE RAIDS MIGHT BE EFFECTIVE MEANS OF DEALING WITH NATIONS THAT HARBOR TERRORISTS. ALSO, A WORLD-WIDE 'NO BARGAIN' CONVENTION WOULD ELIMINATE ANY HOPE OF A NEGOTIATED ADVANTAGE FOR ANY TERRORIST GROUP THROUGH HOSTAGE TAKING. (RCB)