NCJ Number
69563
Journal
Terrorism Volume: 4 Issue: 1-4 Dated: (1980) Pages: 89-121
Date Published
1980
Length
33 pages
Annotation
Terrorism is explored for its contemporary aspects, its operational and organizational problems, sociological factors evident in terrorist groups, and opportunities for counteraction and future approaches to terrorism.
Abstract
This examination of terrorism as a product of a psychological epidemic looks at terrorists' mistaken understanding of Marxism, the increasing numbers of terrorist groups able to execute series of operations, and the contemporary epidemic of psychological disorders exemplified by the assassination of President Kennedy and Castro's revolutionary techniques. The influences of the Maoist cultural revolution, of contemporary intellectual movements, and of early interpretations of Marx on terrorist activity are discussed, with comments on the Italian terrorist movements led by the Red Brigade and the Autonomia Operaia Organizzata. Consideration of terrorist operations and organizations touches on terrorists' lifestyles (use of drugs, ascetic principles), the history of terrorist groups, terrorist typologies (partisan commando, romantic intellectual, or herostratic person), membership, training, and capabilities. Sociological aspects of terrorism addressed include the age-specificity of violence, school experiences of terrorists, the intellectuality of terrorism, human target characteristics, international contacts, typologies and functional compositions of terror groups, and the role family and friends play in protecting terrorists. Attention is given to opportunities for counteraction such as detecting vulnerabilities, breaking down terrorists' communications, promoting negotiations, breaking through terrorists' mental encapsulation, and establishing an understanding of the real and human needs that may be inspiring terrorist activity with a view towards improving the human condition. Footnotes are provided.