Terrorism

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02/09/22

Terrorism Today: The Past, The Players, The Future

6th Edition

Chapter 1 The Definitions and History of Terrorism

Learning Outcomes

1.1 Summarize the historical roots of the term terrorism and the difficulty of arriving at an all- encompassing definition.

1.2 List some of the approaches to defining terrorism.

1.3 Analyse the structures of terrorist groups and their possible common qualities.

1.4 Apply the FBI construct to a prominent terror event

1.5 Compare and contrast the existing definitions as detailed in this chapter

Fig 1-1 Continuum of Behavior

Terrorism will inevitably fall into the range of behaviors that are not only a violation of laws but also a violation of politics and practices of a social group or organization.

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1.1 The Definitions and History of Terrorism

➢ Reign of Terror –France 1792-1794

➢ The French Revolution

➢ Arrests imprisonment and summary execution

➢ Four hundred thousand died during this period

1.1 The Definitions and History of Terrorism.

✓The systematic application of violence to establish and maintain a new political or religious system

✓Terror in conventional warfare between nation- states is a natural by-product of the violence and confusion of combat

1.1 The Definitions and History of Terrorism (1 of 2)

• Labelling persons or groups as “terrorists”: – Ideologues

– Guerrillas

– Revolutionaries

• No established definitional parameters for these terms

• Labels become a matter of value judgement

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1.1 The Definitions and History of Terrorism (2 of 2)

Simple:

Violence or threatened violence intended to produce fear or cause change.

Legal:

Criminal violence violating legal codes and punishable by the state.

Analytical:

A specific political and/or social factor behind individual violent acts

State sponsored:

National or other groups used to attack Western or other vested interests

State: Power of the government used to repress its people to the point of submission

1.2 List Some of the Approaches to Defining Terrorism (1 of 4)

1.2 List Some of the Approaches to Defining Terrorism (2 of 4)

✓Terrorism is the use or threatened use of force designed to bring about change

✓Terrorism constitutes the illegitimate use of force to achieve a political objective

✓Terrorism is premeditated, deliberate, systematic murder….….in order to gain a political or tactical advantage

✓Unlawful use or threat of violence ..…to intimidate of coerce a government

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1.2 List Some of the Approaches to Defining Terrorism (3 of 4)

Alex Schmid

Terrorism is an anxiety inspiring method of repeated violent action, employed by (semi-) clandestine individual, group or state actors, for idiosyncratic, criminal or political reason, whereby—in contrast to assassination—the direct targets of violence are not the main target

1.2 List Some of the Approaches to Defining Terrorism (4 of 4)

✓U.S. Code of Federal Regulation

✓U.S. National Security Strategy

✓U.S. Department of Defense

✓U.S. Department of Justice

✓Prevention of Terrorism Act 1989

✓The Patriot Act 2001

1.3 Analyse the structures of terrorist groups and their possible common qualities

Terrorist Qualities

• They must believe passionately in the justness of their cause

• The must possess the “killer” instinct

• They must possess the ability to act effectively as loners

• They need a high level of physical courage

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1.3 Analyse the structures of terrorist groups and their possible common qualities (1 of 2)

1.3 Analyse the structures of terrorist groups and their possible common qualities (2 of 2)

➢ Terrorist Cellular Structure – good level of operational safety and security

– Identification of others within the group is difficult

– Difficult to infiltrate

➢ Terrorist Groups – Require a support structure and sympathisers

– safe houses, logistics, communication, recruiting

1.4 Apply the FBI Construct to a recent terror event

FBI – GLOBALAL APPLICABILITY?

• Involve violent acts – Violation of criminal laws of U.S. or any state

• Appear to be intended to: – Coerce or intimidate a civilian population

– Influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion

– Affect the conduct of a government by assassination or kidnapping

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1.5 Compare and contrast existing definitions as detailed in this chapter

• U.S. Department of Defense Constructs

• U.S. Department of State

• The League of Nations (forerunner to United Nations)

• Arab Convention for the Suppression of Terrorism

• U.S. Army Training Manual

• European Union

• USA - Patriot Act

1. Review Questions (1 of 2)

1. Discuss the geopolitical conditions that make the task of defining terrorism complicated for the UN General Assembly.

2. Discuss similarities and contrasts between what has taken place with Islamic State atrocities in the twenty-first century and that perpetrated in the seventeenth century during the French Revolution

3. Create your own definition of terrorism, based on an actual terrorist event that has recently taken place in your country.

1. Review Questions (2 of 2)

4. Discuss hostage taking as a criminal incident as opposed to a terrorist event and what elements may complicate the determination.

5. Determine the similarities between the U.S. definitions of terrorism and those of the Arab League