NCJ Number
61090
Journal
JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS Volume: 32 Issue: 1 Dated: (SPRING/SUMMER 1978) Pages: 115-123
Date Published
1978
Length
9 pages
Annotation
THE USE OF TERRORIST TACTICS WILL PERSIST AS A MODE OF POLITICAL EXPRESSION, OF GAINING INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION, AND OF ACHIEVING LIMITED POLITICAL GOALS, ACCORDING TO THIS ARTICLE.
Abstract
FORECASTS AS TO THE PERSISTENCE OF TERRORISM DEPEND ON THE ANALYSIS OF THE ORIGIN AND NATURE OF MODERN INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM. SOME PERSONS PERCEIVE MODERN TERRORISM TO BE THE RESULT OF POLITICAL CIRCUMSTANCES, AS IN THE STATUS OF THE PALESTINIANS OR THE INDUSTRIALIZATION OF LATIN AMERICA. ACCORDING TO THIS VIEW, AS ORIGINAL CONFLICTS ARE RESOLVED, TERRORISM WILL DECLINE. HOWEVER, IF TERRORISM IS ALSO THE RESULT OF TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS SUCH AS INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL AND COMMUNICATIONS, THEN TERRORISM WILL CONTINUE. CONTINUED TERRORISM, ESPECIALLY BOMBINGS, WILL LIKELY FEATURE ATTACKS ON INDIVIDUAL TARGETS SELECTED BECAUSE OF THEIR CONNECTION WITH INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE AND POLITICS. VULNERABLE TARGETS SUCH AS AIRLINERS AND BUSINESS EXECUTIVES CAN BE USED EFFECTIVELY TO DRAMATIZE GRIEVANCES, PUBLICIZE A PROTEST, OR COMMEMORATE A SIGNIFICANT DATE IN A POLITICAL STRUGGLE. EMPLOYMENT OF FREELANCE TERRORISTS AS A MODE OF SURROGATE WARFARE IS ALSO A POSSIBILITY. IN AN ERA OF FORMAL PEACE BETWEEN NATIONS, TERRORISTS MAY BE USED TO INCREASE POLITICAL VIOLENCE AT LOWER LEVELS. THE DECADE FROM 1968 TO 1977 SAW AN INCREASE IN INCIDENTS OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM AND IN THE NUMBER OF TERRORISM-RELATED FATALITIES. INCREASED SECURITY EFFORTS MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO A LEVELING OFF OF SUCH INCIDENTS IN THE MID-1970'S. MEASURED AGAINST THE LEVEL OF 'ORDINARY' VIOLENCE FROM WARS AND CRIMES, TERRORIST VIOLENCE HAS ACTUALLY BEEN TRIVIAL. NEVERTHELESS, TERRORISTS HAVE ATTRACTED CONSIDERABLE ATTENTION WITH RELATIVELY FEW RESOURCES. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (TWK)