Section 1
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When is a revolutionary a terrorist?
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Date created
Mar 1, 2020
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Section 1
(50 cards)
When is a revolutionary a terrorist?
- when they lose - if they win, they are state heroes
Without a real, usable, and agreed-upon definition of terrorism we have begun
- over utilizing the word terrorism to the point of absolute dilution - makes it impossible to formulate or enforce agreements against terrorism or understand the use of extraordinary violence that is the hallmark of terrorism
Gus Martin
- work turns the focus on the structure and the target of the organization rather than the purpose of the action - work notes that terrorism today is understood to involve loose, cell based networks that wage politically motivated, asymmetrical violence against non-military targets
The Uniting Against Terrorism report
- reiterates this message of innocents, claiming that no action, even a struggle for self-determination, allows for the deliberate killing or maiming civilians and non-combatants
What is interesting about the FBI's definition?
- definition adds the previously unmentioned and specific term of property
The question of _____ is present in all definitions of terrorism, but it is not necessarily _____ toward humans
violence
The distinction between a criminal act and a terrorist act can be found in where?
- in the result of the actions - criminal act is done for profit - terrorist has the goal of change through fear or intimidation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) definition
- " The unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives."
What is the inherent problem with Lacquer's question regarding legitimate terrorism?
- if there is real tyranny occurring, a small terror group should not be the only ones recognizing or acting against it - In cases of real tyranny, shouldn't the world audience recognize it as such and come to the aid of those being tyrannized?
Sons of Liberty
- Before the American revolution a group of small men took to burning effigies and damaging or destroying homes of officials participating in the 1765 Snap act - Members were non state actors whose goal was to subvert government and incite change, using extraordinary violence and destruction of property - not traditionally called terrorists bc they won their revolution
The contemporary problem with defining terrorism is?
the overuse of the word
What is the foundation of the difference between terrorism and war?
- War is never a surprise - force employed by a state is seen as legitimate, while violence employed by a non-state actor is not
Robespierre recommended_____ as a systematic tool in reaching the goals of the state
terrorism
Terror just for the sake of fear, without purpose and just to kill is?
not terrorism
The paths to radicalization are varied but can be partially explained using what three components?
- rational models - psychological models - cultural and organizational influence
Revolution
- where citizens rally together and attempt to overthrow their existing government or societal system - first actions of violence taken in the name of a revolution may be perceived as terrorism
Walter Laqueur
- one of the grandfather of terrorism research - asks if there is ever a "legitimate use" of terrorism - " The vagueness— indeed the utter carelessness— with which the term is used, not only in the media but also in government announcements and by academic students of the subject."
why are assassinations and kidnappings rarely included in definitions of terrorism?
- because such a term creates difficult limitations - because they are specific acts committed by a variety of people for a variety of reasons - element of financial gain= criminal actions
Are terrorists mentally unstable?
- very rarely - the rate of mental illness in terrorists is lower than the rate found in the general world population
What is interesting about the FBI's international terrorism definition?
- the transference of what would be illegal in this country to what is occurring in other countries - notable bc they have no international jurisdiction or authority - also the presence of the terms assassination and kidnapping
What is interesting about the CIA's definition of terrorism?
- the limitation of the definition is the victim pool: they must be noncombatants - Given this definition, the combing of the Marine barracks in 1983 by the group Islamic Jihad would no longer be classified as a terrorist event
If change is the goal of violent action in terrorism the violent action alone is ?
not terrorism
Theodore Kaczynski
- isolated himself in montana - sent anonymous letters to several perceived enemies, including the US gov, the entertainment industry, and corporate tech - sent bombs in mail to universities - paranoid schizophrenic
Binyamin Netanyahu
- introduced a concept in his definition of terrorism stating that terrorism is " the deliberate and systematic murder, maiming, and menacing of the innocent to inspire fear for political ends"
Geneve Convention's 1949 "Protection of Civilian Persons in a Time of War"
- prevents the "mutilation, cruel treatment, and torture" of prisoners and noncombatants - used as a foundation for persecuting war criminals in the Hague International Criminal Courts
Gib's writings tie back to who's thinking?
- Robespierre - "terror is nothing other than justice" and can serve as a tool of statecraft
Rational Choice
- says that humans act in ways that are beneficial to them— they work toward their own self-interests -
Radicalization
- the process of change and indoctrination - a person comes to believe that extremist/terrorist views are normal and appropriate
Rajneeshee religious cult in Oregon in 1984 attacks
- goal was to influence a local election by eliminating a large portion of the surrounding population - example of dissident religious terrorism
Carl von Clausewitz
- famous war theoretician - stated that war is compromised of "primordial violence, hatred, and enmity, which are to be regarded as blind, natural force." - was meant to apply to traditional warfare - now fits non-state actors just as well as state actors
Are the 2012 Aurora movie theater shooting and 2012 Sandy Hook shootings examples of terrorism?
- no - gunmen were lone wolves who were mentally ill with no purpose or political motivation - acts had no virtue - not symbolic of a regime or government or political body
What is important of the DoD definition?
- definition focuses on fear and coercion and looks at the goals of the event, - ignores the type of victim as a determinant to what constitutes terrorism
Punctuated Event
- circumstances that can have critical impacts on the radicalization of a person - they can create an atmosphere within a person that simplifies or accelerates radicalization - These events can add distrust or dissatisfaction of the population and may foster activity to counter the event
When is Genocide terrorism?
- If the goal of violence is strictly exterminating a group of people perceived as undesirable— referred to euphemistically as "ethnic cleansing" by the perpetrators - could possibly be tabled as state-sponsored terrorism
The presence and the roles of ____ in terrorist acts, has often created the distinction between a terrorist act and other events
innocents
The 2006 report Uniting Against Terrorism-Recommendations for a Global Counter terrorism Strategy focused on?
- the moral aspects of terrorism that focus on hyper nationalistic and xenophobic messages that glorify mass murder and martyrdom - placed an emphasis on terrorist attitudes and beliefs
Schmid and Jungmann identified?
- several commonalities in existing definitions in order to assess their gaps
Kofi Annan
- former Secretary General of the UN, - wanted to bridge the gap between acts of extraordinary violence and the concern raised by the Islamic Organization Countries - Felt that a single definition might blur the difference between terrorism and the legitimate struggle against foreign occupation
xenophobia
- Hatred of others who are different from you
When was the term terrorism first used?
- coined by Maximillian Robespierre during the Reign of Terror - associated with the French Revolution - term had a positive connotation at the time
hyper nationalistic
- a fervent love of your own nation
Overuse of the word terrorism does what?
- makes it difficult to understand the specific character of what the term really is - inflates stats - makes us immune to the term
Why is it difficult to discuss international counterterrorism agendas and programs and agree upon and pursue anti-terror partnerships around the world?
- there is no agreed-upon definition of terrorism
All terrorist organizations?
- want something - want to change a societal trend and for a variety of reasons they chose terrorism as a tool to achieve this
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) definition of terrorism
- "The calculated use of unlawful violence or threat of unlawful violence to inculcate fear; intended to coerce or to intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of goals that are generally political, religious, or ideological."
Change movement+ violence =
terrorism
CIA definition of terrorism
- "Terrorism is premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against non-combatant targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents"
It is only when u combine____ with acts of _____, you do get a unique and interesting attempt at defining terrorists
- psychological traits - extraordinary violence
What is the inherent problem with Martin's definition regarding terrorism?
- The structure of an organization should not be a determining factor in defining terrorism - terrorists do not have to be part of a cell to carry out an attack - ex: UNAbomber
Robespierre said/emphasized what?
- emphasize that terrorism was the: combination of violence with purpose or the combination of virtue and terror - "Virtue, without which terror is fatal; terror, without which virtue is powerless. Terror is nothing other than justice, prompt, severe, inflexible"
Section 2
(42 cards)