NCJ Number
48022
Journal
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology Volume: 9 Issue: 2 Dated: (JUNE 1976) Pages: 89-94
Date Published
1976
Length
6 pages
Annotation
POLITICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS USED IN JUSTIFYING TRANSNATIONAL TERRORISM AND POLITICAL VIOLENCE AND THEIR ESCALATION ARE CONSIDERED. THE ISSUE OF SELF-DETERMINATION IS GIVEN SPECIAL DELIBERATION.
Abstract
POLITICAL PROBLEMS ARISING FROM QUESTIONS OF TERRORIST MOTIVE, PARTICULARLY THE EMERGING RIGHT OF SELF-DETERMINATION, HAVE RESULTED IN A BREAKDOWN OF UNITED NATIONS' EFFORTS EVEN TO DEFINE TERRORISM, MUCH LESS TO DECIDE ON INTERNATIONAL PREVENTIVE MEASURES. IN MANY CASES, THE END OF SELF-DETERMINATION HAS BECOME A JUSTIFICATION OF THE MEANS USED, EVEN WHEN THE KILLING OF INNOCENT HOSTAGES IS INVOLVED. MOREOVER, PUBLIC AMBIVALENCE TOWARD POLITICAL MOTIVES ALLOWS THE TERRORIST TO ASSUAGE HIS GUILT AND TRANSFORM WHAT ORDINARILY MIGHT BE CONSIDERED MURDEROUS VIOLENCE INTO AN ACT OF HEROISM. FOR INSTANCE, ALMOST ALL MAJOR GUERILLA GROUPS CLAIM TO BE ENGAGED IN LIBERATION STRUGGLES OR JUST WARS. POLITICAL VIOLENCE REFERS TO COLLECTIVE ATTACKS WITHIN THE POLITICAL COMMUNITY AGAINST THE POLITICAL REGIME. TERRORISM MAY BE DESCRIBED AS A SYMBOLIC ACT ENTAILING THE THREAT OR USE OF VIOLENCE EITHER TO CREATE FEAR, ANXIETY, UNCERTAINTY, AND POLITICAL DEMORALIZATION, OR TO CALL ATTENTION TO THE GRIEVANCES OF THE PERPETRATORS. TERRORISM IS BEING USED AS PART OF PLANNED STRATEGIES FOR REDRESS OF PERCEIVED INEQUITIES, AND IT IS DESIGNED TO INTENSIFY POLITICAL VIOLENCE AT ALL LEVELS OF SOCIETY. AMPLIFICATION OF VIOLENCE THROUGH PUBLICITY PERMITS WIDESPREAD ALARM AND DISRUPTION AND CHALLENGES THE AUTHORITY OF THE RULING REGIME. THEORETICALLY, EXTREME SOCIAL DISORIENTATION AND FEAR WILL RESULT IN A CRISIS SITUATION IN WHICH NORMATIVE RESTRAINTS AND TRADITIONAL MODES OF POLITICAL ACTION WILL BREAK DOWN. THIS, COUPLED WITH A BACKLASH AGAINST COERCIVE GOVERNMENTAL MEASURES AIMED AT CONTROLLING VIOLENCE, WILL AFFORD AN AURA OF LEGITIMACY TO TERRORIST CLAIMS AND MAKE THE IDEOLOGY APPEAR BOTH JUST AND RATIONAL. POLITICAL VIOLENCE AND TERRORISM MAY BE EXPLAINED IN TERMS OF THE ALIENATION OF A GROUP WHICH SEEKS TO CREATE AN ALTERNATE OR COUNTERCONSENSUS. THE FRUSTRATION/AGGRESSION THEORY PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK FOR UNDERSTANDING THE BASES FOR VIOLENCE IN ALIENATED SUBGROUPS AND THE ESCALATION OF VIOLENCE ONCE IT IS INITIATED. DUALISTIC IDEOLOGICAL SYSTEMS AND SLOGANS PROVIDE FURTHER JUSTIFICATION FOR TERRORIST ACTIVITIES IN THE MIND OF THE PERPETRATOR. TWO TYPES OF TERRORISTS ARE IDENTIFIED: THE POLITICAL EXISTENTIALIST WHO CONTINUALLY REDEFINES HIMSELF THROUGH REDEMPTIVE ACTS OF VIOLENCE, AND THE INDIVIDUAL WHO WORKS WITHIN AN ORGANIZATION AND TOWARD ITS ESTABLISHED GOALS AIMED AT LIBERATING A PERCEIVED SUBJECT PEOPLE FROM A REPRESSIVE REGIME. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE FUTURE MAY SEE MORE EXTRAVAGANT TERRORIST DEMANDS AND INCREASING LINKS AMONG INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST GROUPS. NOTES ARE INCLUDED. (JAP)