Lecture 1 - What is Terrorism? Flashcards
Whats the purpose of a definition?
- What is a definition’s purpose?
o Descriptive
o Clear demarcations
o Objective and neutral
What is Terrorism?
- There is no commonly accepted definition.
- Highly politicized
o Terrorist’ is everyone we don’t agree with
“One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter” - More than an academic problem
o (Counter)terrorism can affect entire populations
o Nuanced & critical approach key to informed citizenship
What are the different types of definitions?
- Various types
o Legal, governmental, academic
o How can they impact research
o How can they influence debate - Intersection of perspectives from Law & Criminology, Public Policy & Governance
What are the Key Elements of terrorism according to Schmid & Jongman (1988)
- Violence
- Political
- Fear
- Threat
- Psychological effect and anticipated reactions
- Victim-target differentiation
- Purposive, planned, systematic organized actions
Through comparison with other deviant behaviours one can see the boundaries of terrorism. What is the difference between Terrorism and Insurgency, Organized Crime, Murders
Terrorism is a behavior, part of broader repertoire of violence:
- Terrorists do not occupy and govern, key difference with insurgents
- Terrorists not in it for the money, key difference with organized crime
- Terrorists do not know their victims, key difference with murder
Terrorism as violent communication; victims are means to spread messages
What is Schmid (2011) definition.
Elements:
-Terrorism refers to a doctrine about the presumed effectiveness of a special form or tactic of fear-generating, coercive political violence.
-Terrorism also refers to a conspiratorial practice of calculated, demonstrative, direct violent action without legal or moral restraints.
-The targets of terrorism are mainly civilians and non-combatants.
-Terrorism is performed for its propagandistic and psychological effects on various audiences and conflict parties .
‘Terrorism refers on the one hand to a doctrine about the presumed effectiveness of a special form or tactic of fear-generating, coercive political violence and, on the other hand, to a conspiratorial practice of calculated, demonstrative, direct violent action without legal or moral restraints, targeting mainly civilians and non-combatants, performed for its propagandistic and psychological effects on various audiences and conflict parties’
Why is Terrorism a violent communication
Victim target differentation
Terrorism is about intimidation and inspiration; terrorism is a form of violent intimidation.
Terrorism is staged to maximize shock to get maximum attention
What are the different kinds of terrorism?
Different kinds of terrorism
1. Left-wing
a. Marxist / Leninist, revolutionary, struggle for a class-less society. Defined terrorism 1960s-1980s
2. Right-wing
a. Mistrust of government, conspiracy theories, racist, neofascist, highly conservative, religious.
3. Nationalist / Separatist
a. * Self-determination, anticolonial, strong driver insurgency.
4. State terror
a. Large-scale violence to intimidate or control populations. Numerous examples, e.g. Europe, Latin-America.
5. Religious
a. Revolutionary, millenarian, reform or destruction, (other)wordly goals
6. Criminal
a. FARC? Taliban? IRA? Narco-terrorism in the Netherlands?
7. Single-issue
a. Not focused on a particular ideology, but a particular grievance.
8. Lone actor
a. Individuals who plan, prepare & execute attacks in isolation
9. Cyber
a. * The increasing importance of the Internet
Why is terrorism a form of communication?
Terrorism is a form of violent communication
They do not care who they target, but the group they target
Aimed to generate as much attention as possible
Terrorism is a way to use outrageous acts of violence to attrackt attention
Terrorism is not only for intimidation, may also be used to recruit
