Chapter 2: Extremism and Terrorism

What are Hate Crimes?

Physical violence or property destruction motivated by bias toward some type of protected group. Large number of hate crimes are not rooted in a goal to advance poliical or ideological causes.

What are the protected characteristics?

Race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability; amount varies by U.S. state

What is the overlap between hate crimes and terrorism?

Many hate crimes are caused by political or ideological motives, same with terrorism.

What are the elements of extremism?

Adherence to ideas that are far outside the mainstream norms of society. Hostile rejection of differing viewpoints. Expression of one’s ideas in an intolerant and aggressive manner.

Political extremism?

Extremist behavior does not automatically constitute terrorism. Behavior does not entail violence for a political or ideological goal. An example of this is the protests by the Westboro Baptist Church.

Characteristics of extremists?

Exhibit intolerance of views that differ from their own. Adhere to moral absolutes. Employ rigid generalizations. Experience a sense of injustice. Believe in conspiracy theories.

Definition of Terrorism - US

Different definitions for domestic and international terrorism. Terrorist acts are those that are intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion, or affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping.

Definition of Terrorism - EU

Seriously intimidating a population or coercing government or international organization into performing or not performing an act or seriously destabilizing the fundamental political, constitutional, economic, or social structures of a country or an international organization

Definition of Terrorism - Turkey

Focuses on the damage of terrorism to the state, as opposed to the civilian population.

Definition for the course?

Use of violence against civilian or government targets to advance political or ideological goals. Intimidation or degradation of a civilian population, suppression of an active insurgency, Promotion of a certain religious or political ideology. Accumulation of power. Coercion of a government into making concessions.

True or False: Most definitions of terrorism focus on violence committed by non-state actors.

True

What types of entities and individuals have proposed definitions of terrorism?

Governments, International Organizations, and Academic Scholars

True or False: If a crime is committed based on someone's gender identity, the penalty for that is more severe then a crime that is not motivated by those characteristics

True

True or False: The concepts of guerrilla warfare and terrorism are not interchangeable.

True

What is a Guerrilla warfare?

Irregular military force that engages in armed combat with an enemy military force in an effort to seize territory from the latter force.

Have some guerrilla forces committed terrorist acts?

Yes. FARC in Colombia.

Different roles in terrorist acts

receiving end, represented, and the perpetrators.

What is Discriminate force?

Limited violence aimed at certain targets; to avoid collateral damage.

What is Indiscriminate force?

Widespread and imprecise violence; no effort toward limiting the scale of destruction caused by the violence. Intended to demoralize and/or annihilate a population.

Indiscriminate or Discriminate - Which is more likely to be broadly condemned by the international community?

Indiscriminate force against civilians