Section A Flashcards
Rapoport (2004)
Four waves of terrorism
Anarchist wave - 1880s (Narodnaya Volya)
Anti-colonial wave (IRA)
New-left wave (JRA)
Religious wave
Introduction
> Rapoport (2004)
waves not exclusive
Narodnaya Volya first modern terrorist group
nationalism (IRA), left-wing and state sponsored (JRA), Narodnaya Volya anarchist but also left-wing
differences of historical and political contexts, JRA wanting to expand to the whole world, influences, who was fighting, nationalism/anti-imperialism
similarities of persecution, public leanings effecting membership, very old events influencing things as much as more recent ones
Point A
PERSECUTION
> IRA - history. Anti-colonialism and persecution. Explain historical context despite time gap (1177 to 1919).
> Narodnaya Volya - bringing end to persecution of peasants, despite being generally elite and literate. ‘Go for the people’ and witch hunts. Inspired by French Revolution
> JRA- overthrowing Japanese monarchy and government. Interested in bringing a world wide revolution, not just in Japan. Hence their frequent outside-Japan attacks. Not quite persecution here, but wanting to overthrow the imperialist Japanese government and monarchy, as well as imperialism in general. They thought imperialism made rich countries richer and poor countries poorer, so were not doing it out of nationalism as the IRA were. Very far goal in comparison.
JAPANESE RED ARMY
Like the IRA their history dates back a long time, in this case to WW2, despite the JRA’s first international attack being in 1970.
Political and social upheaval after losing ww2. Uni system similar to USA’s was established, so higher education more available. General McArthur was in charge of US occuping forces in Japan, and wanted to encourage Japan to be more democratic through the university students challenging things. This backfired as it ended up with more university students joining the japanese communist party’s student association (nearly 60% of students by 1948)
Influence of JCP increased despite attempts to quell them. Communist teachers arrested - students rioted in response.
JRA eventually developed from this, first as the Red Army Faction.
Point B
Force
JRA - history and focus on anti-imperialism. Context around this - lots of harsh force resulted in increase in members.
IRA - arresting wrong people and putting them in special prisons, Black and Tans sent out who were too violent, etc. Easter Rising 1916 - leaders demanding free state executed to huge public backlash
Narodnaya Volya - generally not so good rep, hence being quite a small group in comparison. Harsh response (executions and sentenced for hard labour) not met with General condemnation from others. Also came from lots of students.
Point C
NATIONALISM VERSUS COMMUNISM
Narodnaya Volya - history. Socialist group wanting to expand on ‘populism’ who wanted a modern and democratic society instead of the economic backwardness and political oppression they endured. Russian peasantry believed to be inherently socialist due to collective holding. Wanted to persuade peasants to agree with them, but most rejected their ideas. Came from Tsarist country beginning to have reform, but slowly.
IRA - nationalist focus instead. Goal to make an independent and United Ireland, despite Northern Ireland not wanting that (NI catholic minority wanted to unite though). Came from a former colony with a religious split wanting independence.
JRA - communist focus but wider spread, wanting to make everyone in the world communist basically. Came from a imperialist and conservative country just beginning to have the start of a democracy.
IRA
1177 - Ireland under British rule
Henry II - Military engagement and more authority
James I - act of union (England and Scotland), plantation, Cromwell
1916 - Easter rising
1919 - IRA creation
Conclusion
All came from different places and times, so different contexts
JRA and Narodnaya Volya occurred during time of change and reform, unhappy that things weren’t proceeding as far or as fast as they wanted. IRA (and to an extent the JRA) occurred due to backlash over extreme measures
All three had lots of historical reasons from a long time before
