Terrorism 4 Flashcards
Putra & Sukabodi Basic concepts and reasons behind emergence found
qualitative study of terrorists, interpret what they stated; social conditions that justify terrorism
Social conditions terrorist feel justify terrorism (Putra & Sukabodi) (4)
1) conflict between Muslims and non-Muslims; 2) frustration with Indonesian government; 3) extreme action warranted in a ‘state of war’; 4) suicide bombing perceived as a noble act of martyrdom
Conflict between Muslims and non-Muslims (4)
1) West is targeted because it is considered evil and is an invader of Muslim nations; 2) Western European nations occupied Middle East between the two world wars; 3) Three times different Popes asked the Royal houses of Europe to go on crusades to push Muslims out of the Middle East. In response to the third (last) crusade, Muslims occupied the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) for 700 years; 4) Currently, USA has many military bases in many countries, including many Islamic states e.g. Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia
Frustration with the Indonesian government for
for being too moderate with West
Extreme action warranted in a ‘state of [undeclared] war’
terrorists believe there is a state of undeclared war between their country and another; most modern conflicts are fought without formally declaring war (e.g. Russia invasion of Afghanistan and USA and ally’s invasion of Iraq)
Historically, terrorist acts associated with…
undeclared possession of traditional territory
International undeclared possession of traditional territory (5)
1) England invaded Ireland in the 1600s and then partitioned it in 1921 - IRA attacks in Northern Ireland lasted for 70 years; 2) Zionists created the Jewish state (Israel) in the mid-1940s by using terrorist acts to force Great Britain out of Palestine; 3) Since then, Palestinians have used terrorism (PLO and the original airline high jackings) to try to regain their territory; 4) European nations colonised most of the Middle Eastern states after WW1 and continue their presence; 5) Presence of US military around the world
National or regional undeclared possession of traditional territory (2)
1) in USA, extreme right-wing groups in the south of USA have interpreted any Federal Government legislation as an attempt to eliminate them and thus have declared war on their own government; 2) An American domestic terrorist bombed a Government building in Oklahoma City killing 168 people and injured over 680 others - the second most deadly act of terrorism within the US
Suicide bombing perceived as a noble act of martyrdom (2)
historically, the use of suicide when in a hopeless (powerless) situation has been considered noble; Japanese Kamikaze pilots flew their planes (loaded with explosives) into enemy war ships
McCauley & Moskalenko study ‘How radicalisation happens to them’
Radicalisation has four stages; stages in moving normal people to extreme beliefs that are bizarre to outsiders
4 stages of radicalisation
1) picking the right person; 2) developing emotional bonds; 3) isolation; 4) keeping control
Picking the right person (do not have to have all of these) (7)
1) living in adverse conditions (perceived to have little or not political power); 2) instances of discrimination; 3) low tolerance for uncertainty; 4) disillusionment with current status; 5) naive realism (the world is a simple place and I can make a difference); 6) tenuous social network (either at family level (contradictory views) or alienation from the wider community; 7) mentally stable (mentally ill people are poor recruits because their behaviour is likely to be unpredictable and thus will be unreliable)
Why do they need stable people
terrorist groups need relatively stable people who can work toward the terrorist’s goal e.g. specific target at a specific time and will continue continue to act when stressed by completing the act of terrorism
Developing emotional bonds involves (4)
1) the targeted person (recruit) is flooded with flattery and indicate they are valuable, they can contribute to the cause, their views (against a common enemy) are valid; 2) given the recruit’s lack of past group membership, the group tends to highlight belongingness to the group (group think); 3) highlight the importance of their role that they are joining a group has political power; 4) begin with non-extreme material and little acts and build to the ultimate (suicide attack that will kill as many others as possible) see Milgram’s gradual escalation to get people to obey illegitimate orders to kill someone
Milgram and radicalisation
Milgram’s research studied obedience to authority figures; employed an authority figure to instruct subjects to perform acts conflicting with their personal conscience
