lecture 9

Question 1

what is political crime

Answer 1

an unlawful act that is intended to harm a state or government, or to challenge the social order

Question 2

crimes against the state

Answer 2

an illegal act that intends to harm a state or government or its political or economic policies

Question 3

crimes by the state

Answer 3

an illegal act or omission by the state or its agents that is intended to harm the state’s political or economic policies.

Question 4

DAT political crime

Answer 4

political offenders as being socialized into their belief system by similarly minded individuals

Question 5

4 characteristics of political crime

Answer 5

uncharacteristic of typical criminals: they often don’t fit the traditional criminal profile

political motivation: their crimes are motivated by ideological beliefs

use of violence or non-violence: depending on their goals, they may engage in violent or non-violent activities

complexity: their criminal actions are often linked to broader social or political movements

Question 6

non-violent crime ideology

Answer 6

change oppressive systems, policies, and acts, while avoiding violence against people

Question 7

what are examples of non-violent political crimes

Answer 7

civil disobedience, public protests, unauthorized distribution of political materials, spreading misinformation, sedition (through speech), graffiti with political messages, boycotting, whistleblowing, and unauthorized political campaigning

Question 8

violent crimes ideological aims

Answer 8

political, religious, environmental

Question 9

what is terrorism, and why is it hard to define

Answer 9

terrorism is the use of violence or threats to intimidate or coerce, typically for political purposes. it is difficult to define because it involves subjective judgments about legitimacy

Question 10

what is the difference between revolutionary and repressive terroism

Answer 10

revolutionary is aimed at overthrowing existing power structures and repressive is aimed at preserving or enforcing that status quo through violence

Question 11

what are examples of violent political crimes

Answer 11

terrorism - attacks to instill fear or influence political processes

political assassinations - targeting leaders or officials to alter a political system

revolutionary violence - acts meant to overthrow a political system

Question 12

how do non-violent political crimes escalate to violent ones

Answer 12

non-violent acts like protests, civil disobedience, or propaganda can escalate to violence due to repression, failed negotiations, or radicalization of ideological beliefs

Question 13

what are the five types of political assassins according to James clark

Answer 13

1. political
2. egocentric
3. psychopathic
4. insane
5. atypical

Question 14

what are the categories of terrorism according to Gurrs typology

Answer 14

1. vigilante terrorism - aim to maintain/return to the status quo - private groups/citizens against other groups/citizens
2. insurgent terrorism - aim to change political policies through direct threats - targeting public figures, buildings, and transportation
3. transnstional terrorism - occurs when nonindigenous terrorists cross borders
4. state terrorism - government acts to repress citizenry

Question 15

what are some challenges of researching terrorism

Answer 15

access to data: teroroist groups often operate in secret, making it hard to gather reliable data

bias and perspective: definitions of terrorism may vary based on the political viewpoint of the researcher

ethical concerns: studying terrorism can raise ethical issues, particularly in terms of privacy and human rights

Question 16

what are some major findings from contemporary research on U.S. terrorism/terrorist threats

Answer 16

the US faces threats from both international and domestic groups

there’s a growing concern about “homegrown” terorrism fueled by ideologies such as white nationalism and anti-government sentiments

Question 17

what are the big picture findings regarding terrorism by anti-US groups

Answer 17

• anti us terorist groups often have transnational goals, seeking yo challenge us foreign policy or undermine us influence globally
• they are typically motivated by ideological or religious beliefs, such as radical islamism or anti-imperialism

Question 18

how do state reactions to terrorism vary

Answer 18

punishment: some states impose harsh penalties, while other may negotiate or offer concessions

repression vs. tolerance: some governments respond with repressive tactics, while other may tolerate or even support certain forms of resistance

Question 19

what are some common counterterrorism measures

Answer 19

surveillance, intelligence sharing, militia intervention, legislative measures

Question 20

examples of violent crimes committed by the state

Answer 20

genocide, assassinations, assault

Question 21

what re some non-violent crimes by the state

Answer 21

surveillance, infiltration, disruption, legal repression