Terrorism Overview - History of Terrorism

Extremists/Extremism

Refers to holding radical views that are intolerant of others. Seen as logical to followers but illogical to others. Simplifies complex issues, creates a clear sense of moral absolutes. No grey area and often results in intolerance toward different perspectives. All terrorists are extremists, but not all extremists are terrorists.

Definition of Terrorism

Violent criminal acts or threats committed by individuals and/or groups to advance political, religious, or ideological motives to instill fear into the believed opponent.

International terrorism

Violent, criminal acts committed by individuals and/or groups who are inspired by, or associated with, designated foreign terrorist organizations or nations (state-sponsored).

Domestic terrorism

Violent, criminal acts committed by individuals and/or groups to further ideological goals stemming from domestic influences, such as those of a political, religious, social, racial, or environmental nature.

Goals of Terrorists

Changing the Existing Order, Psychological Disruption, Social Disruption, Creating a Revolutionary Environment

Historical Perspectives of Terrorism: Antiquity

Characterized by state repression and political violence. Tyrannicide (the killing of a tyrant) was championed.

Historical Perspectives of Terrorism: The Roman Age

Violence comparable to state terrorism today. Crucifixions were a common form of public execution. Regicide (the killing of a king) was common.

Historical Perspectives of Terrorism: The Ancient and Medieval Middle East

Terrorist tactics were used. The Sicarii were masters of guerrilla warfare and destruction of property.

Historical Perspectives of Terrorism: The Dark Ages

Conflict involved openly brutal warfare. Recurrent warfare was motivated by religious intolerance and political discord between feudal kings and lords.

The French Revolution: Prelude to Modern Terrorism

The term "terrorism" was coined by Edmund Burke in reference to the Reign of Terror, which was led by a radical Jacobin-dominated government.

The Modern Era (Rapoport's Waves Theory): Terrorism is categorized into four historical waves

The anarchist wave: 1800s to the end of WWI. The anticolonial wave: end of WWI until the late 1960s. The New Left wave: late 1960s to the near present. The religious wave: about 1980 to the present.

Fringe Left

Extreme interpretation of Marxist ideology, using theories of class warfare or ethno-nationalist liberation to justify political violence. Violence is seen as a legitimate option because the group considers itself at war with an oppressive system, class, or government.

Far Left

Championed groups: class or nationality, Methodology or process: political agitation, Desired outcome: radical change

Far Right

Championed groups: race, ethnicity, nationality, religion. Methodology or process: political agitation, Desired outcome: reactionary change

Fringe Right

Championed groups: Race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, Methodology or process: "Order" movement, Desired outcome: Reactionary change, Rooted in belief in ethno-nationalist or religious superiority, and terrorist violence is justified as a protection of the purity and superiority of the group, Picture themselves as champions of an ideal order that has been usurped, or attacked, by inferior interests or unwanted religious values

Anarchism

Leftist philosophy born from the social upheavals and class conflicts of mid-19th-century Europe, culminating in the Revolutions of 1848.

Radical Socialism

advocating for the equitable distribution of industrial wealth to benefit the working class

Fascism

right-wing counterpoint to Marxism, rooted in extreme nationalism that championed the superiority of a specific ethno-racial group. It was anti-communist, anti-democratic, and anti-intellectual, demanding extreme obedience to the state and reinterpreting traditional values like duty and the Church.

Traditional Terrorism

Usually politically motivated

New Terrorism

Religiously or ideologically motivated

Structural Theory

A discipline to identify social conditions that affect a group's access to services, equal rights, civil protections, or freedom. Political oppression and economic inequality (like extreme poverty) can create frustration that leads to fighting back. A weaker state is more likely to lead to terrorism.

Relative Deprivation Theory

The underlying motive for people to participate in political violence is their observation that they are relatively deprived in an unfair social order. Discontent increases when people feel deprived relative to some other group or find their hopes for improved conditions have been frustrated.

Absolute Deprivation

Occurs when a group is deprived of fundamental necessities and/or is directly abused (e.g., lack of food, water, shelter, physical abuse). Victims can become violent as they don't have much to lose.

Anomie Theory

Describes a state of normlessness or social norms and values breaking down when there is a disconnect between cultural goals and the means to achieve them.

Strain Theory

The societal anomie creates strain when there is a gap between culturally approved goals (like wealth) and the purpose/means to achieve them, pushing people to commit crimes.

Differential Association Theory

A process of learning in which both criminals and lawful citizens learn their behavior from association with others (e.g., organized crime family members growing up in the culture).

Psychological Makeup of Terrorists

Simplified definitions of Good and Evil. Seeking Utopia (though nothing is perfect for everyone). Self-Sacrifice: They adhere to their code (even if that code involves killing people) and view deviation as moral failure. Moral Convictions: Their goals are considered principled; they seek to prove themselves and their thoughts.

Stockholm Syndrome

A psychological response in which hostages or abuse victims develop an emotional bond and positive feelings toward their captors or abusers as a survival mechanism

Media and Terrorists

Mass communication is used by terrorists because efficiency and timeliness are critical to spreading their message.

Boko Haram

Opposes Westernization, which it blames for Nigeria's corruption and social inequality, and it seeks to establish an Islamic state under strict Sharia law. Non-violent at first then turned to violence under new leader

IRA

Republican paramilitary organization that used terrorism against British rule in Northern Ireland and to achieve a united Ireland

Tamil Tigers

Militant group fighting to create an independent Tamil state. employed guerrilla tactics and a notorious suicide bombing unit, the Black Tigers, for both military and political assassinations

Hamas

Armed Palestinian Sunni Islamist political and military organization that has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007. Ideology: Nationalism and Islamism, Resistance against Israel, Rejection of Israel's legitimacy, Social welfare network