NCJ Number
50825
Journal
Futurist Volume: 11 Issue: 6 Dated: (DECEMBER 1977) Pages: 351-354
Date Published
1977
Length
4 pages
Annotation
ETHICAL ISSUES FOR DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENTS TO CONSIDER WHEN FORMULATING POLICY FOR DEALING WITH VARIOUS TYPES OF TERRORIST THREATS ARE IDENTIFIED AND DISCUSSED.
Abstract
IT IS NOTED THAT VALUES, WHETHER MATERIALISTIC OR SPIRITUAL, ARE PRESENT IN THE PRESUPPOSITIONS WHICH DETERMINE THE TERRORIST'S GOALS AND MEANS, AS WELL AS IN THE ASSUMPTIONS UPON WHICH ANTITERRORISTS DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO BARGAIN WITH THEIR OPPONENTS. IT IS BELIEVED THAT HUMAN LIFE, POLITICAL CHANGE, FINANCIAL GAIN OR LOSS, AND SYMBOLS OF AUTHORITY ARE ALL BARGAINING MATTERS IMBUED WITH PHILOSOPHIC AND RELIGIOUS VALUE AS TERRORISTS AND ANTITERRORISTS INTERACT IN A CONFLICT SITUATION. THE AIMS, METHODS, LABELS, AND POSSIBLE DESTRUCTIVE CONSEQUENCES ASSOCIATED WITH A GIVEN TERRORIST INCIDENT ARE IDENTIFIED AS FACTORS WHOSE CHARACTERISTICS WILL BRING INTO PLAY A MULTIPLICITY OF VALUE JUDGMENTS BY THE THIRD PARTY ANTITERRORISTS. CONCERNS FOR THE WELFARE OF THE TERRORIST AS WELL AS HOSTAGES ARE NOTED TO VARY ACCORDING TO PERCEPTIONS OF THE MENTAL STATE OF THE TERRORISTS, HIS OR HER POLITICAL AFFILIATIONS, AND THE NATURE OF THE DEMANDS. PROSPECTIVES ON THE TERRORIST ARE BELIEVED TO REFLECT PERSONAL, ETHICAL, AND POLITICAL PREDILECTIONS. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HOSTAGE INFLUENCE APPROACHES TO FOIL THE TERRORIST. THE AGES OF THE HOSTAGES, PERCEIVED VALUE OF THE HOSTAGES TO SOCIETY, AND THEIR POLITICO-SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS AFFECT CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING THE WORTH OF THEIR LIVES. THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO THE TERRORIST IS ALSO SIGNIFICANT; PUBLIC DISAPPROVAL OF THE TERRORIST IS GREATER IF THE HOSTAGES ARE PERCEIVED AS INNOCENT BYSTANDERS. THE INTRODUCTION OF NUCLEAR POWER AS A DESTRUCTIVE THREAT ALSO CHANGES MANY OF THE VALUE JUDGMENTS AFFECTING PUBLIC AND GOVERNMENTAL REACTIONS TO TERRORISTS WHO POSE THIS THREAT. ALTHOUGH THE RELATIVITY INVOLVED IN ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING TERRORISM IS NOTED, NO PRECISE ETHICAL GUIDELINES ARE PROPOSED. IT IS SIMPLY RECOMMENDED THAT EACH GOVERNMENT GIVE SERIOUS THOUGHT TO ITS APPROACH TO VARIOUS TERRORIST THREATS PRIOR TO THEIR OCCURRENCE. CERTAIN PREVENTIVE STEPS ARE ALSO BRIEFLY SUGGESTED. (RCB)