NCJ Number
73142
Date Published
1977
Length
120 pages
Annotation
Using the theme that terrorism is as old as civilization itself, this book is intended to further cooperation between the police, the public, and the media in combating terrorism.
Abstract
Based on the six Lees Knowles lectures, given by the author at Cambridge University, England, in 1975-76, the text examines the varied forms of guerrilla warfare and terrorism which are described as the primary form of conflict for our time. It traces the beginnings of guerrilla warfare and terrorism from early civilization to the development of Mao Tse-Tung's revolutionary campaign during World War II and its use against the French in Indo-China by Vo Nguyen Giap in 1947-54. The failure of Mao Tse-Tung's rural pattern of guerrilla warfare in Malaya and its success in Vietman are analyzed and the peaceful use of military forces to build up the economy and combat terrorism is assessed. The text provides a historical perspective on the present terrorists in Northern Ireland and on the Palestinian terrorists. It presents the theoretical background of the international terrorist movements and describes the motives of some of their members, including middle-class students. Descriptions are given of progress in reducing bombings, kidnapping, and hijacking using such examples as the U.S. system of hijacking protection introduced at all airports in 1973. The book assesses the problem of sacrificing civil liberties to combat terrorism and concludes that public awareness of the real goals and methods of terrorists can prevent overreaction or repression. A bibliography with about 60 references is included.