NCJ Number
50057
Date Published
1978
Length
41 pages
Annotation
A REPRINT OF THE TASK FORCE ON DISORDERS AND TERRORISM COMPARES CIVIL DISORDER TO TERRORISM. FUTURE TRENDS IN MASS VIOLENCE IN THE UNITED STATES AND ABROAD ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
TERRORISM AND DISORDERS BOTH CONSTITUTE BETWEEN THEM ATTACKS ON THE ESTABLISHED ORDER OF SOCIETY, HOWEVER, THE DIFFERENCES LIE IN THE FOCUS, DIRECTION, APPLICATION, AND PURPOSE OF THEIR TERROR. CIVIL DISORDERS ARE MANIFESTATIONS OF EXUBERANCE, DISCONTENT, OR DISAPPROVAL ON THE PART OF A SUBSTANTIAL SEGMENT OF THE COMMUNITY. THEY DO NOT NECESSARILY HAVE POLITICAL OVERTONES; THEY MAY, FOR EXAMPLE, ARISE FROM EXCESSIVE STIMULATION DURING A ROCK CONCERT OR FOOTBALL GAME. DISORDERLY ACTS MAY RANGE FROM THE USE OF ABUSIVE LANGUAGE TO LARGE-SCALE DESTRUCTION OF LIFE AND PROPERTY. TERRORISM, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS DESCRIBED AS THE DELIBERATELY PLANNED WORK OF A SMALL NUMBER OF MALCONTENTS OR DISSIDENTS WHO THREATEN THE SECURITY OF ENTIRE COMMUNITY. IT MAY TAKE ON THE FORM OF POLITICAL TERRORISM, NONPOLITICAL TERRORISM, QUASI-TERRORISM, LIMITED POLITICAL TERRORISM, OR OFFICIAL OR STATE TERRORISM. HISTORICALLY, TERRORISM HAS BEEN A WEAPON OF THE WEAK AGAINST THE STRONG TO REDRESS THE BALANCE OF POWER, BUT MODERN TERRORISM IS AIDED BY THE TECHNOLOGICAL VULNERABILITY OF MODERN SOCIETY, EASE OF INTERCONTINENTAL TRAVEL, AND DEVELOPMENT OF MASS COMMUNICATIONS. CIVIL DISORDERS, AND THE FEAR AND DISRUPTION THAT ARE INCIDENTAL TO THEM, PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPLOITATION BY TERRORISTS. TERRORISTS' THREATS ARE GENERALLY CLASSIFIED AS THOSE WHICH ANNOUNCE THAT AN ACTION WILL BE TAKEN IF DEMANDS ARE NOT MET AND THOSE WHICH SERVE AS WARNING OF AN INITIATED ACTION. AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE NATURE OF THREATS, THEIR PURPOSE, AND THE TERRORISTS' STRATEGY IS ESSENTIAL FOR DETERMINING A RESPONSE. IT HAS BEEN OBSERVED THAT VERY LITTLE AMERICAN VIOLENCE HAS BEEN INSURRECTIONARY. MASS PROTEST IN THIS COUNTRY HAS BEEN DIRECTED AT MODIFYING OUR SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT, NOT OVERTHROWING IT. TERRORISM IN THIS COUNTRY HAS BEEN LIMITED, UNPOPULAR, AND DISORGANIZED. IT HAS, THEREFORE, NOT BEEN ABLE TO DEVELOP INTO GUERILLA WARFARE. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE NATURE OF AMERICAN SOCIETY ENABLES IT TO ABSORB A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF VIOLENCE WITHOUT DAMAGING ITS POLITICAL STRUCTURE. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE UNITED STATES CONSIDER INTERNATIONAL PATTERNS OF MASS DISORDER, THEIR DEVELOPMENTS, AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS TO DETECT TRENDS OF MASS DISORDERS IN THIS COUNTRY AND TO DESIGN METHODS OF HANDLING THEM. THE ECONOMIC, PSYCHOLOGICAL, POLITICAL, AND SOCIAL COSTS CAN ONLY BE ESTIMATED, BUT THEY ARE CONSIDERED TO BE PHENOMENAL. CONSIDERING THE EFFECTS OF SOCIAL AND POLITICAL FACTORS AND THE CONTAGIOUSNESS OF TERRORISM, IT IS PREDICTED THAT TERRORIST ACTIVITIES WILL INCREASE AND INTENSIFY. IN CONTRAST, CIVIL DISTURBANCES APPEAR TO BE CYCLICAL AND ARE THE PRODUCTS OF LOCAL SOCIAL AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (JCP)