NCJ Number
104886
Date Published
1987
Length
117 pages
Annotation
Written for a juvenile audience, this book highlights the roots, motivations, and targets of contemporary terrorists, as well as victims' reactions and the media's role.
Abstract
The book first defines terrorism and discusses how it differs from ordinary crime. A historical survey of revolutionary terrorism focuses on the French Revolution and early 19th century Russian terrorists. The Irish Republican Army, the Doukhobors in Canada, and Basque separatists are among the groups described as examples of young terrorists fighting for a cause handed down from a previous generation. The book profiles Carlos (Ilich Ramirez Sanchez) as an example of an international terrorist and explores the complex web of global terrorism supported by Libya and Moscow. A review of research on terrorists' personalities identifies common psychological features, but cautions that no experts have really penetrated the mind of a terrorist. Case histories illustrate typical stages in a victim's reaction to terrorism, including the Stockholm Syndrome. Other areas covered are American business executives in foreign countries as targets and how terrorists exploit the media. Solutions to terrorism are explored. References and index.