TERROR - THE CRIME OF THE PRIVILEGED - AN EXAMINATION AND PROGNOSIS

• NCJ Number: 48939
• Journal: Terrorism Volume: 1 Issue: 1 Dated: (1977) Pages: 1-16
• Author(s): C V HASSEL
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 16 pages
• Corporate Author: Crane, Russak and Co, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS OVERVIEW OF THE BACKGROUND OF TYPICAL TERRORISTS DISCUSSES THEIR MENTAL DYNAMICS, PHILOSOPHICAL AND ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK, INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, AND FUTURE STRATEGIES; COUNTERMEASURES ARE ALSO DISCUSSED.

Abstract

THE TYPICAL TERRORIST IS PORTRAYED AS BEING FROM A MIDDLE-CLASS BACKGROUND, WITH A DEVELOPED VIOLENT STREAK STEMMING FROM A SENSE OF INTELLECTUAL AND EMOTIONAL ALIENATION FROM ANY REAL, ESTABLISHED SOCIOECONOMIC LIFESTYLE. TERRORISTS IDEALIZE THAT THEIR SENSE OF ALIENATION AND OPPRESSION WILL BE RELIEVED WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND POLITICAL STRUCTURE WHICH THEY BELIEVE TO BE THWARTED BY THOSE PERCEIVED AS THE ENEMY. IT IS BELIEVED THAT MOST TERRORISTS EMBRACE THE POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY OF MARXISM, ALTHOUGH EXISTING SYSTEMS CLAIMING TO MANIFEST THIS IDEOLOGY ARE OFTEN VIEWED AS CORRUPTIONS OF IT AND ARE MERELY OTHER FORMS OF BUREAUCRATIC OPPRESSION. TERRORISTS ARE PERCEIVED AS HAVING MANY OF THE BEHAVIORAL PATTERNS OF PARANOIACS WHO MUST, USING THEIR OWN POWER AND AGGRESSION, CARVE OUT A HOME FOR THEMSELVES IN A WORLD IN WHICH THEY FEEL HOMELESS AND SURROUNDED BY ENEMIES. IT IS INDICATED THAT WOMEN GRAVITATE TO TERRORIST MOVEMENTS AS AN ABERRANT EXTENSION OF THE LEGITIMATE STRIVING OF WOMEN TO BREAK OUT OF THE NARROW ROLES INTO WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN FORCED BY MOST CULTURES. A GROWING INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION BETWEEN VARIOUS TERRORIST MOVEMENTS AND NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS IS NOTED, AND IT IS BELIEVED THAT UNITED STATES TARGETS AT HOME AND ABROAD WILL BE INCREASINGLY INVITING TO THE TERRORIST BECAUSE OF THEIR SYMBOLIC IMPORTANCE AS BASTIONS OF THE MOST POWERFUL CAPITALIST NATION IN THE WORLD. NUCLEAR TERRORISM IS CONSIDERED A POSSIBILITY. THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION'S VIGILANCE AGAINST TERRORISM IS EXIDENCED BY THE CREATION OF A NEW UNIT WITHIN THE BUREAU, THE SPECIAL OPERATIONS AND RESEARCH STAFF, WHICH IS INTENDED TO APPLY THE CONCEPT OF A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM APPROACH TO THE STUDY OF THE TERRORIST THREAT AND MAKE ITS SERVICES AVAILABLE ON BOTH A NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL BASIS. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)