CH3: The Causes of Terrorism

absolute deprivation

a sociological term that indicates the lack of basic human needs for survival

act of political will

the notion that one can force change by an absolute commitment to a cause; all that is required is complete and uncompromising dedication to achieving one’s goals

Black September

a campaign waged by the Jordanian army in September 1970 to suppress what was perceived to be a threat to Jordanian sovereignty from Palestinian fighters and leaders based in Jordan

Black Windows

the term given to the Russian media and authorities to Chechen women who participated in terrorist attacks against Russian interests; many Black Windows engaged in suicide operations, and such women either volunteered, were manipulated, or were coerced to enlist. They were allegedly the relatives of Chechen men who were killed in the conflict

Bloody Sunday

an incident on January 30, 1972, in Londonderry, Northern Island, when British paratroopers fired on demonstrators, killing 13 people

Bushido

the Japanese code of self-sacrifice adopted before and during the Second World War. Derived from the ancient code of the Samurai

codes of self-sacrifice

philosophical, ideological, or religious doctrines that create a warrior ethic in followers of the doctrine. Codes of self-sacrifice instill a sense of a higher calling that allows for the adoption of a superior morality. Acts of violence carried out in the name of the code are considered by followers to be completely justifiable

end justifies the means

a concept wherein the desired goal is so just that the methods used to obtain the goal are acceptable regardless of their immediate consequences

intifada

the protracted Palestinian uprising against Israel. Literally, “shaking off”

kamikaze

during the Second World War, the Japanese military sent suicide planes against American warships. These were called kamikazes. Literally, “divine wind” in Japanese

Mini-Manual of Urban Guerrilla

an influential essay written by Carlos Marighella that outlined his theory of urban dissident terrorist warfare

nihilist dissidents

antistate dissidents whose goal is to destroy the existing social order, with little consideration given for the aftermath of the revolution. They practice “revolution for revolution’s sake”

pan-Arabist

an ideological conceptualization of Arab unity, historically promoted by Arab nationalists

people’s war

a concept in irregular warfare in which the guerrilla fighters and the populace are theoretically indistinguishable

relative deprivation theory

a sociological term that indicates the lack of human needs vis-à-vis other members of a particular society

Samurai

a member of the medieval Japanese warrior class

Stockholm syndrome

a psychological condition in which hostages begin to identify and sympathize with their captors

structural theory

a theory used in many disciplines to identify social conditions (structures) that affect group access to services, equal rights, civil protections, freedom, or other quality-of-life measures

urban guerrilla warfare

a strategy adopted by leftist revolutionaries to conduct political violence in urban centers. Assassinations, bombings, and other terrorist tactics were used as practical methods for waging insurgent warfare in urban environments

Utopia

the title of a book written in the 16th century by Sir Thomas More depicting an ideal society