NCJ Number
53137
Date Published
1977
Length
28 pages
Annotation
THE CAUSES AND TACTICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF POLITICAL TERRORISM AND TYPES OF TERRORISTS ARE INVESTIGATED.
Abstract
TERRORISTS SEEK TO USE FORCE AS AN INSTRUMENT TO COMPROMISE EXISTING GOVERNMENTS AND TO ESTABLISH RADICAL ALTERNATIVES IN A REVOLUTIONARY MANNER; THE FEAR-INDUCING ACT SERVES AS PROPAGANDA TO GAIN CONVERTS, AND ONE ACT LEADS TO ANOTHER, MAKING A REVOLUTIONARY OVERTHROW OF THE GOVERNMENT LIKELY. TERROR CAN BE CATEGORIZED AS THE PERSONAL TYPE WHICH IS SUBJECTIVELY MOTIVATED (E.G., DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST SOCIAL CONDITIONS, LOOTING, MARTYR ETHICS) OR THE MACROSOCIAL TYPE INTENDED TO BRING ABOUT CHANGES IN RULE OR TO REINFORCE GOVERNMENT POWER (E.G.,, GENOCIDE, NATIONAL SEPARATIST MOVEMENTS, ANARCHIST UPHEAVALS). NEW INSTRUMENTS OF POWER IN A MODERN INDUSTRALIZED WORLD THAT IS MORE VULNERABLE TO ATTACKS BECAUSE OF POPULATION CONCENTRATIONS AND COMPLEX INDUSTRIAL PROCEDURES RANGE FROM THE INSTIGATION OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TERROR TO DEMONSTRATIONS, KIDNAPPINGS, COMMANDO RAIDS, SABOTAGE, TAKING OF HOSTAGES, AND GUERRILLA WARFARE. MODERN TERRORISTS ARE CHARACTERIZED BY UNCONDITIONAL BELIEF IN THE POSSIBILITY OF FREEING INDIVIDUALS FROM THEIR FATES THROUGH FORCE, BUT THEY ARE STORM TROOP LEADERS RATHER THAN INTELLECTUAL STRATEGISTS WHO PLAN THE FUTURE. TERRORISTS TODAY ARE MOTIVATED NOT BY NEEDS BUT BY DEMANDS FOR HUMANITY AND JUSTICE WHICH BECOME DESPOTIC MORALITY AND LEAD TO DESTRUCTION WITHOUT PURPOSE. AS TERRORISM TENDS TO INVOLVE THE POPULATION AS A WHOLE, CONTROL OF TERRORISM REQUIRES THAT THE PUBLIC AND LEGAL AUTHORITIES BE INFORMED ABOUT TERRORIST GOALS AND TACTICS, AND THAT PENALTIES FOR TERRORIST ACTIVITIES BE MADE MORE SEVERE. YOUNG PEOPLE IN PARTICULAR SHOULD BE PROTECTED AGAINST CULTS OF VIOLENCE THAT REPRESENT ONLY LIMITED GROUP INTERESTS. EXTENSIVE NOTES ARE PROVIDED. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)