NCJ Number
61893
Date Published
1934
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE NATURE OF TERRORISM, ITS HISTORIC MANIFESTATIONS, AND ITS EFFECTS ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
TERRORISM IS THE TERM USED FOR THE METHOD OR UNDERLYING THEORY OF SYSTEMATIC VIOLENCE EMPLOYED BY AN ORGANIZED GROUP IN AN EFFORT TO ACHIEVE ITS GOALS. INTIMIDATION, SUCH AS THAT USED HISTORICALLY IN LABOR CONFLICTS AND ORGANIZED CRIME ACTIVITIES, DIFFERS FROM TERRORISM IN THAT THE INTIMIDATOR, UNLIKE THE TERRORIST, RELIES PRIMARILY UPON THE THREAT OF VIOLENCE, RATHER THAN ITS REGULAR ACTUAL USE, AS THE MEANS FOR GAINING COMPLIANCE WITH DEMANDS. TERRORISM DIFFERS FROM GOVERNMENTAL TERROR IN THAT GOVERNMENTAL TERROR OPERATES UNDER THE CLOAK OF LEGALLY CONSTITUTED AUTHORITY, WHEREAS TERRORISM MAKES NO CLAIM TO ACT BY ANY LAWS OTHER THAN THOSE GUIDELINES DEVISED OUT OF ITS OWN IDEOLOGY. THE USE OF TERRORISM IS NOT LIMITED TO POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS; ANY GROUP SEEKING THE RELOCATION OF POWER MAY ORGANIZE FOR VIOLENCE. TERRORISM AS AN ACCEPTED REVOLUTIONARY TECHNIQUE OF ANARCHISM WAS MANIFESTED IN THE LAST TWO DECADES OF THE 19TH CENTURY, ESPECIALLY IN THE LATIN COUNTRIES, WHERE ASSASSINATION OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WAS REGULARLY ATTEMPTED. HISTORICALLY, THE PUREST EXPRESSION OF THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF TERRORISM WAS IN THE FUNCTIONING OF THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTIONARY ORGANIZATION--THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE NARODNAYA VOLYA (PEOPLE'S WILL), FORMED IN 1879 TO DO VIOLENCE AGAINST CZARIST REGIMES. THIS ORGANIZATION IMAGINED THAT BOLD ACTS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST THE CZAR WOULD AROUSE THE OPPRESSED PEASANTS TO A MASS REVOLT; HOWEVER, THE TERRORIST ACTIVITY FAILED TO STIR THE PEASANTS FROM THEIR PASSIVITY, AS THE MOVEMENT WAS CARRIED BY THE INTELLECTUAL ROMANTICISM OF STUDENTS AND THE LIBERAL BOURGEOISE. AS A COMPLETE REVOLUTIONARY TACTIC, TERRORISM HAS NEVER ATTAINED REAL SUCCESS. GOVERNMENTS, WHETHER CONSERVATIVE OR REVOLUTIONARY, WILL NOT RETREAT BEFORE ACTS OF TERROR DIRECTED AT KEY PERSONS. THE ART OF REVOLUTION MUST BE SUSTAINED BY THE WILL OF A LARGE PORTION OF THE POPULATION AFFECTED BY THE POWER AT ISSUE AND BY CONCERTED MASS OPERATIONS. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)