Study Guide for Terrorism and Guerrilla Warfare History

Overview of themes including definitions, types, examples of terrorism and guerrilla warfare, and historical contexts.

Definition: Terrorism is characterized as an anxiety-inspiring method of repeated violent action.
- Actors Involved: Can include individual, group, or state actors that operate in a (semi-) clandestine manner.
- Motivations: Aimed at achieving idiosyncratic (individual preferences), criminal, or political goals.
- Differences from Assassination: Unlike assassination, where the main targets are direct victims, terrorism typically involves immediate casualties chosen randomly or selectively:
- Random Selection: Targets of opportunity, chosen without prior particular reasoning.
- Selective Targets: Representative or symbolic targets that carry greater meaning or a message.
Role of Victims: Immediate human victims serve not as primary targets but as generators of messages and fear.
Communication Process: Terrorism involves a threat- and violence-based communication between:
- The terrorist organization
- Imperiled victims
- The main target/audience
- The manipulation aims to turn the audience into a target of terror, demands, or attention based on whether intimidation, coercion, or propaganda is sought.
Key Quote (Alex P. Schmid, 1988): “Terrorists attempt to achieve their political or ideological aims by using violence to spread fear in the targeted population.”

Definition: A form of irregular warfare.
Historical Contexts:
- American Revolution: Instances of guerrilla tactics employed during the struggle for independence.
- Colonial Resists: Examples such as Riel Resistances/Rebellions and the Asante conflicts in the colonial world.
- 20th Century Examples:
- Resistance movements during World War II, including partisan fighters.
- The Cuban Revolution as a notable instance of guerrilla warfare.
Notable Figures:
- Patrick Joseph Hill
- John Walker
- Robert Gerard Hunter
- Noel Richard Mcllkenny
- Hugh Callaghan
- William Power

Exploration of the distinction between organizations involved in terrorism and those in guerrilla warfare.
Examples of Groups/Contextual Events:
- Irish Republican Army (IRA)
- Front de Libération Nationale (Algeria)
- Palestinian-Israeli Conflict
- Noted as a point of contention and complexity in categorizing actions as terrorism or legitimate resistance.

Historical Events to Note:
- Easter Uprising (1916): A pivotal moment in Irish history leading to various conflicts.
- Sinn Fein: A political party that played a central role in the quest for Irish independence.
- Home Rule (1920): Legislative measures regarding governance in Ireland.
- Partition: The division into six provinces of Northern Ireland.
- War of Independence (1919-1921): Irish fight against British rule leading to significant historical changes.
- Anglo-Irish Treaty (1921): Treaty resulting from the war establishing the Irish Free State.
- Irish Civil War (1922-1923): Conflict resulting from divisions over the treaty.
- Key Figures:
- Michael Collins (1890-1922) - Major figure in the struggle for independence.
- Eamonn De Valera (1882-1975) - Influential Irish politician and leader during the civil war.
- Harry Boland (1887-1922) - Another prominent figure associated with the independence movement.
- Establishment of the Republic of Ireland (1949): The culmination of multiple conflicts and political movements into an independent state.

The complex interplay of terrorism, guerrilla warfare, and historical resistance movements presents a rich field of study with significant implications reflecting modern geopolitical struggles and classification challenges.