NCJ Number
118920
Editor(s)
D C Rapoport,
Y Alexander
Date Published
1989
Length
416 pages
Annotation
The understanding of terrorism can be facilitated by examining historical perspectives and terrorist doctrines and activities in the context of religious and secular justifications.
Abstract
Distinctions are made between violence and terror and between State and rebel terror. By using violence beyond the limits that society views as tolerable, or by consciously calculating atrocities to stir the emotions of victims and observers, terrorists can be differentiated from others who seek to coerce. This is true regardless of whether the ultimate purpose of terrorists is to serve religious or political objectives and whether terrorists are members of a rebel group or government leaders. In considering a wide range of moral issues associated with terrorism, the book is divided into three sections. The first section examines religious terror, with emphasis on models of rebellion, liberation theology, and international terrorism. The second section discusses State terrorism, with consideration given to the French Revolution, Fascism's philosophy of violence and terror, and Nazi terrorism. The third section addresses rebel terrorism, focusing on moral issues, the concept of guilt transfer, terrorist rights, laws of war and terrorism, and the elimination of terrorist opportunities. References.