NCJ Number
47411
Journal
MILITARY POLICE LAW ENFORCEMENT JOURNAL Volume: 3 Issue: 4, Dated: (WINTER 1976-1977) Pages: 38-41
Date Published
1977
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE POLITICAL, SOCIAL, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ORIGINS OF TERRORIST BEHAVIOR ARE DISCUSSED, AND RESOURCES ARE NOTED FOR DEALING WITH TERRORIST ACTIVITY.
Abstract
IT IS ARGUE THAT A POSITIVE CLIMATE EXISTS WORLDWIDE REGARDING THE VALIDITY OF TERRORISM, ALTHOUGH THE INERNATIONAL COMMUNITY-AT-LARGE FEELS OBLIGED TO CONDEMN SPECIFIC DEEDS OF DESTRUCTION PERPETRATED BY TERRORISTS. SUCH A PERSPECTIVE TENDS TO BE HELD BY THOSE WHO FEEL FRUSTRATED AND EXPLOITED BY INSTITUTIONALIZED POWER WHICH THEY FEEL POWERLESS TO REFORM FOR THEIR OWN BENEFIT. AN INDIVIDUAL OR SMALL GROUP'S VIOLENT EFFORT TO MANIPULATE POWERFUL AND IMPERSONAL NATIONS THUS FINDS SUPPORT AMONG THOSE ALIENATED FROM MEANINGFUL POWER CHANNELS. TERRORISM, THEREFORE, IS BELIEVED A MANIFESTATION OF GOVERNMENT'S OR SOCIETY'S FAILURE TO TREAT CONSTITUENTS IN A RESPONSIBLE AND CARING MANNER. IT IS ARGUED THAT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL TO ACT ETHICALLY AND WITH COMPASSION IN THE TREATMENT OF FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS IS WAIVED WHEN MISTREATMENT BY THE INSTITUTIONALIZED POWERS OF SOCIETY BECOMES INTOLERABLE. THIS STATE OF ALIENATION AND THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE VALIDITY OF VIOLENT AND DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR BY THE ALIENATED IS REGARDED AS THE DANGEROUS CLIMATE THAT SPAWNS TERRORISM. ALSO, IT IS ARGUED THAT BOTH THE ACT OF THE TERRORIST AND THE OPPRESSION OF INSTITUTIONALIZED POWER SHOULD BE DELEGITIMIZED AS INHUMANE AND ULTIMATELY PRODUCTIVE OF THE SAME EVILS. (RCB)