TERROR IN THE UNITED STATES - THREE PERSPECTIVES (FROM POLITICS OF TERRORISM, 1979, BY MICHAEL STOHL - SEE NCJ-56208)

• NCJ Number: 56220
• Author(s): F D HOMER
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 33 pages
• Corporate Author: Marcel Dekker, Inc
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE CONCEPT OF TERROR AND TERRORIST ACTIVITIES IN THE UNITED STATES ARE VIEWED FROM THREE PERSPECTIVES: TERROR IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY, TERROR IN A VIOLENT SOCIETY, AND TERROR IN A PLURALIST SOCIETY.

Abstract

IN AN ATTEMPT TO UNDERSTAND THE ROLE OF TERROR IN THE UNITED STATES, THE PROPRIETY OF TERROR AS A STRATEGY OF THE GOVERNMENT OR ITS OPPOSITION IS QUESTIONED. WHETHER TERROR ACCOMPLISHES REFORM OR REVOLUTIONARY GOALS IS OF IMPORTANCE. IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY, THE BELIEF IS THAT INDIVIDUALS CAN PEACEFULLY AIR THEIR VIEWS. WITH AN OPERABLE DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY THAT ALLOWS FOR PEACEFUL CHANGE, TERRORISM CANNOT BE TOLERATED. THIS DEMOCRATIC PERSPECTIVE HAS OFTEN BEEN USED TO SUGGEST LIMITS TO WHICH A GROUP CAN GO IN ARTICULATING ITS GRIEVANCES, EVEN WHEN TERRORISM IS NOT IN THE FOREFRONT AS A TACTIC. INDIVIDUALS WHO BELIEVE THAT THE UNITED STATES IS A VIOLENT SOCIETY REJECT THE DEMOCRATIC PERSPECTIVE ON TERROR. THEY BELIEVE THAT THREATS OF VIOLENCE AS WELL AS ACTUAL INCIDENTS OF VIOLENCE AND TERROR, ALONG WITH THE DEMOCRATIC MYTH, ARE USED TO MAINTAIN SOCIAL PEACE. THOSE WHO BELIEVE THAT VIOLENCE AND TERROR ARE ENDEMIC TO U.S. SOCIETY GENERALLY CONTEND THAT THE IDEAL OF A PEACEFUL SOCIETY IS SELF-SERVING AND THAT THE ONLY WAY TO CHANGE CERTAIN CONDITIONS IS THROUGH ACTS OF VIOLENCE AND TERROR. JUSTIFICATIONS FOR THE USE OF VIOLENCE AND TERROR MAY BE LIBERATION FROM A REPRESSIVE REGIME, INDIVIDUAL LIBERATING POTENTIAL, OR INTRINSIC SATISFACTION IN THE COMMISSION OF VIOLENT ACTS. THE TWO PERSPECTIVES, TERROR IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY AND TERROR IN A VIOLENT SOCIETY, ARE UTILIZED TO AN UNEQUAL EXTENT BY PARTICIPANTS IN SOCIAL CONFLICT. THE PLURALISTIC PERSPECTIVE SUGGESTS THAT THE SOCIAL SYSTEM BE EXAMINED AS A CONGERIES OF GROUPS ACTING AND REACTING WITH ONE ANOTHER, SOMETIMES IN CONFLICT AND AT OTHER TIMES COALESCING. UNLIKE THE DEMOCRATIC PERSPECTIVE, THE PLURALIST PERSPECTIVE DOES NOT ASSUME THAT GOVERNMENT IS UNITARY IN ANY WAY. THE PLURALISTIC PERSPECTIVE VIEWS TERROR AS A COMPLEX ACTIVITY INVOLVING MANY GROUPS WITH DIVERSE PURPOSES, INTERACTING ON DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. NOTES AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)