NCJ Number
16376
Date Published
1974
Length
200 pages
Annotation
A DISCUSSION OF THE EMPLOYMENT OF DIRECT TERRORISM (I.E. AGAINST MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNMENT) AND INDIRECT TERRORISM (I.E. DIRECTED INDISCRIMINATELY AGAINST A GOVERNMENT'S CONSTITUENTS SO AS TO DESTROY THEIR CONFIDENCE IN IT).
Abstract
THE AUTHOR ARGUES THAT SUSTAINED TERRORISM IS OFTEN EFFECTIVE, ESPECIALLY WHEN AND WHERE IT IS POLITICALLY INEXPEDIENT TO USE COUNTER-TERRORISM. THE AUTHOR GIVES A BROAD VIEW OF THE SUBJECT. IN THE FIRST PART HE DISCUSSES THE IDEAS OF FOUR OF THE 'THEORISTS' OF TERRORISM, MEN WHOSE BELIEFS AND WRITINGS HAVE PROVIDED THE CREDO OF VARIOUS TERRORIST MOVEMENTS THAT HAVE COME IN THEIR WAKE - MAX STIRNER, SERGEI NECHAYEV, MICHAEL BAKUNIN AND JOHANN MOST. THE SECOND PART OF THE BOOK IS DEVOTED MORE GENERALLY TO SOME OF THE PRACTITIONERS, TERRORIST MOVEMENTS WHICH HAVE HELD SOCIETY TO RANSOM - THE CARBONARI, THE MAFIA, THE ANARCHISTS, SOCIALISTREVOLUTIONARIES, THE IRA, THE SERBIAN BLACK HAND, THE STERN GANG, UP TO TODAY'S URBAN GUERRILLAS. IN A CONCLUDING CHAPTER THE AUTHOR TERMS TERRORISM A CARTHARTIC FEVER INCIDENT TO CIVILIZATION, AND DISCUSSES THE PROS AND CONS OF ITS USE ON A PURELY PRACTICAL LEVEL, DISREGARDING ANY QUESTION OF THE MORALITY OF USING THIS TYPE OF FORCE AS DISTINCT FROM WAR WAGED BY GOVERNMENTS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)