Terrorism

This test will be essay and 30 multiple choice questions

Current Usage of reference

  • Fringe groups

  • Generally religious

  • ANti western

  • Outside of state of approval

Modern Origin

  • Revolutionary France

  • Orchestrated by Robespierre

Terrorism For Stability

  • French thought they needed terrorism to keep monarchists in check

  • Used to preserve revolution

Late 1800’s-Early 1900’s

  • Pendelum that swings from states to non-states

Narodnaya Volya - Russia

  • Demanded parliament, no permaneny arms, transfer land to people

Irish

  • More violent than the russians

  • believed that

1930’s-1950’s

  • Associated with repression

  • Ex. Hitler, Stalin, Mussiolini

1950’s-1990’s

  • Viewed as a tool of national independence

  • Irgun VS Palestine vs the UK

  • Viewed terrorism as state sponsored

  • Soviet union was viewed as the main perpetuator of terrorism in washington

Terrorism

  • Terrorists are freedom fighters according to russians

  • same as founding fathers

Contermperary definition of terrorism

  • The use or threat of violence (generally symbolic)

  • non-state actors

Why do groups choose to be terrorist’s

  • Many argue its an enviromental factor

  • impoverished and radical people

  • usually at the bottom end of socioeconomic ladder

Reality

  • In reality most terrosists come from a middle class family

  • most leaders of these groups are well educated

In the US

  • Most domestic terrorists are poor

  • make an avg of $26,000

Islam and Terrorism

  • Concepts of qua-ran used to justify violence

  • “Jihad”

Problems with argument

  • Very small percentage of islamic people are terrorist

  • using religion to excuse terrorism is consistent across all religions

  • Christians - Liberalism militias in Lebanon, Lords liberation army in uganda

  • Hindus - Thugs

  • Jews - Irgun

Suicide Terrorism

  • Developed by marxists

  • Tamil Tigers

Strategic Choice (Why use terrorism as a strategy?)

  • Radical Change

  • Protection of existing privelage (move backwards) Ex. KKK

Obstacles That cause terrorism

  • Lack of widespread support

  • Lack of traditional strength

  • alternative forms of resistance have failed

Terrorisms Major Benefits (education not literally)

  • Raises the groups profile

  • Spreading insecurity can destabilize a state

Strategic Suicide Terrorism

  • Perceived control of forces directed from an external source

  • Threatened identity

  • Happens in divided society (multi religious/ ethnic state)

Benefits of suicide terrorism

  • Sends a strong signal

  • Weaker force with strong resolve

Strategies

  • Recruiters are to valuable to suicide bomb