Lecture 9: Terrorism and Insurgency Flashcards
Recent Study of Terrorism
Began in the 1970s, notably after airline hijackings.
9/11 shifted terrorism to the forefront of International Relations (IR) research.
95% of terrorism research emerged after 9/11.
Post-9/11: Increase in studies in the US and Europe, but by the 2010s, US research declined while Europe maintained interest.
Terrorism remains a contested concept with no universally accepted definition.
Critical Terrorism Studies (2006) emerged to analyze terrorism as a social construct and critique counterterrorism strategies.
definition Terrorism
“the sustained use of violence against symbolic or civilian targets by small groups for political purposes through coercion, fear, drawing widespread attention to a political grievance, and/or provoking a draconian or unsustainable response”
Key Characteristics of Terrorism
Distinct Form of Non-State Violence: Requires its own category, separate from other types of political violence.
Vehicle for Communication: Terrorism functions as a tool for spreading propaganda.
“Propaganda of the Deed”: Violent acts are designed to draw attention to a political cause.
Violence as a Means to Gain Attention: Tools like dynamite and bombings are used strategically to amplify their message.
Terrorism vs. Insurgency
Scope and Scale:
Terrorism: Limited in scale, typically targeting civilians or symbolic targets to incite fear and provoke overreaction.
Insurgency: Larger-scale conflict using guerrilla tactics to challenge state authority, often involving raids and ambushes.
Political Change:
Terrorism: Rarely achieves political change directly.
Insurgency: Aims to achieve political change by combining military force with political strategy.
Support and Mobilization:
Terrorism: Usually lacks widespread public support or control over territory.
Insurgency: Mobilizes significant public support and often administers or governs territory.
Examples:
Hamas/Hezbollah: Both organizations blur the lines. While they employ terrorist tactics, they also control territory, provide social services, and maintain political structures — characteristics more typical of insurgencies.
Key Distinction: Insurgents actively contest and govern territory, whereas terrorist groups generally do not.
Terrorist Targeting
Strategic Model: Terrorists evaluate their options based on potential political payoffs.
Targeting Civilians: Chosen when the anticipated political gain outweighs other tactical options.
Terrorism as a Strategy:
Ineffective in achieving long-term political goals.
Terrorism as a Tactic:
Effective as a tool for communication and spreading propaganda.
Key Point: Terrorism often fails as a broader political strategy but can succeed as a tactical method to gain attention and influence public perception.
Policy Responses to Terrorism
Ambiguity: Unclear if responses should focus on short-term or long-term strategies.
Definition Issues: Varying definitions of terrorism create confusion in policy approaches.
Success Factors: Uncertainty about what conditions lead to successful counterterrorism.
Response Types:
Short-term (Hard): Military action, surveillance, and security measures.
Long-term (Soft): Addressing root causes, promoting social inclusion, and education.
Key Distinction:
Counterterrorism: Focuses on immediate prevention and disruption.
De-radicalisation: Aims to reduce extremist ideology and reintegrate individuals.
How does terrorism end?
Global Responses Vary: Different countries have various approaches to ending terrorism.
Post-1970s: Rise of counterterrorist forces (e.g., Delta Force in the U.S.).
9/11 Impact: Shift to global war on terror, turning small-scale attacks into larger military campaigns.
Al-Qaeda’s Decline: Terrorism may persist, but individual campaigns and groups often fade due to counterproductive efforts and exhaustion.
Ineffective Targeting: Killing leaders doesn’t always dismantle terrorist groups; real change requires addressing underlying conditions.
Strategic Bombing vs. Terror Bombing
Dresden & WWII: Controversy over bombing civilian centers during war. Churchill’s justification, RAF denied use of terrorism.
Airpower Theory (Giulio Douhet): Advocated for air superiority and bombing civilian targets to force surrender, arguing it was cheaper and more effective than trench warfare.
Effectiveness of Terror Bombing: Despite its use, there’s no strong evidence that bombing civilian populations leads to surrender or military victory.
Terrorism as a Strategy: Using terror to change behavior is often ineffective as a long-term military strategy.
Insurgency Strategy: To Win Means Not to Lose + External Support
Key to Insurgency: Survival and existence, not necessarily winning military battles.
External Support: Vital for insurgencies to succeed. This includes:
US Revolution: Arms, legitimacy, and safe haven were crucial.
Afghanistan: Support from Pakistan was essential for the insurgency’s survival.
Insight: Insurgents often rely on external aid to maintain momentum and legitimacy.
T.E. Lawrence: Guerrilla Tactics and External Support
Guerrilla Tactics: Known for using unconventional, asymmetrical warfare techniques.
External Support: Relied on local forces for success during his campaign.
Famous Quote: “The printing press is the greatest weapon in the army of the modern commander” – highlighting the importance of propaganda.
Targeting Logistics: Focused on disrupting Turkish logistics during World War I as part of his strategy.
Modern Insurgency: Maoist 3 Stages & Political Importance
Stage 1: Strategic Defensive
Focus: Avoid pitched battles, use limited tactical offensives.
Goal: Stretch and exploit weak points in enemy forces.
Stage 2: Stalemate
Focus: Prolong conflict to wear down the adversary.
Stage 3: Strategic Offensive
Focus: Large insurgent forces overwhelm government, seize territory/state.
Key Principle: “80% Political, 20% Military”
Political indoctrination is essential.
WIN THE LOCAL POPULATION over to your cause to weaken the government.
Counterinsurgency Tactics: Key Principles
Support of the Population: Gaining local support is crucial.
Government Legitimacy: Must function in accordance with the law.
Focus on Political Subversion: Defeat political subversion, not just the guerrillas.
Legitimacy is Key: The government must be perceived as legitimate.
Long-Term Commitment: Prepare for a long-term engagement.
Coordination Between Civil & Military: Effective cooperation is essential.
Intelligence: Gathering intelligence is critical to success.
Minimum Use of Force: Debated but important to avoid alienating the population.
External & Internal Counterinsurgency: Involvement of external powers (e.g., US/Coalition) and host nations.
Build Local Capacity: Strengthen local institutions but be wary of dependence.
What are the four key characteristics that make al-Qaida unique among terrorist organizations?
Fluid Organization – A diffuse network of affiliated groups and individuals.
Recruitment Methods – Recruitment through kinship and friendship, not formal pressure.
Funding – Financial support from diverse sources like charitable organizations, informal banking, and businesses.
Means of Communication – Use of modern communication technologies (websites, social media, instant messaging) to spread ideology and coordinate globally.
