Terrorism Flashcards
Is terrorism a weapon of the weak or strong?
It is a weapon of the weak conducted by a minority who promote an extremist ideology - often fails to create Political change.
Has the UN been able to define terrorism?
No. There have been attempts by the UN level to draft a comprehensive convention on international terrorism in order to criminalise all forms of international terrorism and deny support. Negotiations are stalled because cannot define or reach a consensus on what terrorism is.
Areas of consensus; what is Terrorism characterised by?
Terrorism is characterised first and foremost by the use of violence and is often indiscriminate in its targets.
What is the Kiras’s definition of Terrorism?
Terrorism is defined as the use of violence by sub-state groups to inspire fear by attacking civilians and/or symbolic targets, for purposes such as drawing widespread attention to a grievance, provoking a severe response, or wearing down the opponent’s moral resolve, to effect political change. (Kiras
Areas of consensus; Which type of actors use terrorists tactics?
Terrorism is mostly done by non-state actors.
Areas of consensus; How is terrorism distinguished from criminal acts?
Terrorism or other acts of violence by sub-state groups is distinguished from criminal acts on the basis of the purpose of which violence is carried out; political change
Areas of consensus; What can increase support for terrorist groups?
Disproportionate or heavy handed responses by states to acts of terrorism.
What are the three main disagreements about terrorism about?
1) The purpose for violence used.
2) Whether terrorist violence is legitimate
3) What it’s root causes are
4) who or which actors can be said to commit acts of terror
State Vs non state terrorism; What was historically terrorism defined as?
Terrorism described state violence against citizens. It was during the reign of terror in order to consolidate power after the french revolution.
State Vs non state terrorism; Why is the label terrorism powerful for state actors?
It is a powerful and convenient way for states to delegitimise political violence committed by non-state actors against them by terming it terrorism.
State Vs non state terrorism; Can state violence be termed terrorism?
Debated still, whether its war or terrorism, e.g. Israeli deterrent tactics against Palenstinans.
State Vs non state terrorism; Example of states sponsoring non state actors that adopt terrorist tactics?
Iran supporting Hezbollah in Lebanon
Terrorist organisation vs Liberation movement; “One man’s …
terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter.”
Terrorist organisation vs Liberation movement; What do those sympathetic to terrorist causes suggest about violent tactics?
It is the only remaining option by which the aggrieved can draw attention to their flight.
Terrorist organisation vs Liberation movement; Who is less inclined to see legitimacy or justification behind attacks?
Those targeted by terrorism do not see legitimacy in attacks that spread fear by killing civilians.
Is a terrorist organisation clearly defined from a liberation movement?
No lines often blurred, cases of liberation movements becoming terrorist organisations and vice versa.
Example of terrorist organisation –> liberation movement? (1)
e.g. Mandela and ANC, they were once seen as terrorist by western world and South Africa, but Mandela now hero for racial equality.
Example of terrorist organisation –> liberation movement? (2)
e.g. IRA was described as terrorists by unionists and British Government but seen as national liberation movement by catholics and nationalists in N.Ireland.
Example of liberation movement —> terrorist organisation?
e.g. Taliban and Al-Qaeda.
Ronald Reagan met with representatives of Afghan Mujahideen, perceived to be religious fighters engaged insurgency against soviet union who had taken power in 1979.
Who gave Mujahideen and allies, including Bin Laden financial/military aid?
United states, Saudi Arabia and others against Soviet union and their atheist communist beliefs.
Terrorism as an organisation vs terrorism as a tactic; Why is terrorism seen as the weakest form of irregular welfare? (2 reasons)
- It is weak because they rarely possess broader support of the population that characterised insurgency or revolution.
- \they do not have economic/military capabilities of opponents.
Some groups are labelled terrorist organisations but why is this not always technically accurate?
Particularly in the middle east, organisations do not solely use terrorism as a tactic to pursue power and authority. They use other tactics.
Name a example of a terrorist organisation that does not just use terrorism as a tactic to pursue power and authority?
What other tactics does this middle east organisation use?
e.g. Daesh (ISIS) and Hamas target civilians but this is only one and not the main tactic, describing it as a terrorist group is misleading; Guerrilla and Conventional warfare often more important than terrorism for the group.
Who argues that calling ISIS a terrorist organisation is a misleading?
What is it actually?
Daniel Bineman
ISIS use terrorism as a tactic but describing it as terrorist group is misleading.
Daesh (ISIS) is more of a quasi-state sponsor of terrorism rather than traditional terrorist group.
According to Bineman why does ISIS engage in terrorism?
Only when traditional military means fail or are not an option. The ISIS cannot engage in guerrilla or conventional warfare in Europe and US.
Why is it technically not correct to say a terrorist group has outlandish ideology with only small or marginal support from population ?
Example of terrorist organisation having widespread support ?
Hamas and Hezbollah participate in political process through democratic elections, not marginal with little or no support along local populations.
They run schools, health clinics
What does the global terrorism database by Bellocova say?
That all terrorist groups listed in database use terrorism in combination with other tactics.
“these organisations are not simply terrorists but mostly organisations engaging in political struggle for power through violent means that include terrorism.”
Between 2002-2012, how many groups limited its attacks to civilian targets?
Only one, so only this group is a terrorist organisation in the strictest sense.
What do the findings show (from terrorist global database)
That the common usage of term ‘terrorist groups,’ is only partially accurate.
How does the orthodox approach see terrorism?
Terrorism is an objective phenomenon.
Security focus of orthodox approach?
What kind of questions do orthodox scholars ask?
Understanding root causes and strategies of terrorism.
What leads individuals and groups to turn to terrorism; lack of education, ideology, political grievances, phycology.
Policy focus of orthodox approach?
What kind of policies do they suggest?
How to best prevent and defeat terrorism.
phycological profiling, education, ideological warfare (prevent and propaganda), rehabilitation, imprisoning or killing.
How does the critical approach see terrorism?
Terrorism is a subjective phenomenon
What do critical studies see as impossible with terrorism?
impossibility of neutral or objective terrorist knowledge and acute awareness of political uses that it can be with and its inbuilt biases and assumptions.
What does critical approach try and avoid?
uncritical use of labels, assumptions and narratives regarding terrorism that would neutralise or imply that they uncontested (Jackson).
Security focus of critical approach?
problematise the use of the label ‘terrorism,’ problematise growth of the security state in the context of the War on Terror.
Policy focus of critical approach?
de-securitise terrorism.
Types of terrorist groups; why is it often difficult to put terrorist groups in a category ?
Because terrorist groups often have multiple grievances and compete with one another for resources and support.
The importance of grievances within a group can change over time.
Who identifies four main types of terrorist groups that have existed throughout history and today?
Cronin
Name the four types of terrorist groups?
Left wing, Right wing, Ethno nationalist and separatist.
when did left wing or marxist groups enjoy prevalence?
They enjoyed prevalence during the Cold War but waned since the collapse of communism
Left wing group; Which columbian terrorist organisation still exists?
FARC, Columbia but more of a criminal organisation now.
