Terrorism & Insugency Flashcards
How has the study of terrorism evolved recently?
9/11 brought terrorism to the forefront of research agendas in IR
Terrorism still defies definition
Emergence of Critical Terrorism Studies
How has the attention given to terrorism changed in a longer time period?
Terrorism studied from 1970s, especially after spate of airline hijackings
At least 95 percent of terrorism research produced after 9/11
Despite major increase in terrorism studies in US and Europe after 9/11, by 2010s major decrease in US but still significant in Europe
What is Critical Terrorism Studies?
understand terrorism as a process of social construction + understand and criticise counterterrorism
What is the escalation scale of civil unrest?
1.Radicalisation/Extremism/Political Subversion
2. Terrorism
3. Insurgency
4. Civil War
What is one comprehensive definition of 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”
What is the end goal and hope with terrorism?
- Terrorism cannot result in change on its own
- By provoking a response, terrorists hope that their opponent will overreact
What makes terror groups very unpredictable?
Goals of terrorist groups may shift over time
How to differentiate Terrorism vs Insurgency?
Crucial difference is scope and scale of violence
Having the means to contest, hold and govern territory - political control - is key
How can we define what constitutes an insurgency?
In an insurgency, the adversaries are asymmetric, and the weaker, and almost always a substate, group attempts to bring about political change by administering and fighting more effectively than its state-based for through the use of guerrilla tactics
How is scope and scale of violence a crucial differentiator between terrorism and insurgency?
Terrorism rarely results in political change on its own while insurgency attempts to bring about change through force of arms
Insurgency unlike terrorism is characterized by the support and mobilisation of a significant proportion of the population
Why is it hard to characterise groups like Hamas or Hezbollah?
They use terrorist tactics but also control territory, provide social welfare to local communities
What perpetrators constituted terrorism in the 1990s?
Hamas, Hezbollah, lone wolf attacks
What perpetrators constituted terrorism in the 1970-80s?
IRA, PLO, Action Directe, Red Brigades, Red Army Faction, ETA, individuals such as Carlos the Jackal
What perpetrators constituted terrorism in the 1950-60s?
Malaya, Vietnam, Cyprus, Algeria
What were the oldest instances categorised as terrorist attacks?
- 1914: assassination of Franz Ferdinand
- Late 19th century Russia
Why may actors choose terrorism?
Because they expect it to work for them
Does terrorism work?
Impossible to measure the effectiveness of terrorism due to use of other methods
Very hard to evaluate whether terrorism was productive or counterproductive regarding the outcome
What is the Strategic Model in Terrorist Targeting?
Terrorists weigh their available options based on presumed political payoffs
Terrorists attack civilians when the expected political result is better than with other available tactical options
Why is it mportant to distinguish between terrorism as a strategy versus as a tactic?
As a strategy it is mostly ineffective in achieving political goals of terrorist group
But as a tactic it can be an effective means of communication
What are some dilemmas in policy responses to terrorism?
Tension between short term (hard) responses and longer term (soft) solutions
Counterterrorism versus de-radicalisation
How are terrorism and war similarly immortal in a way?
“Terrorism, like war, never ends; however, individual terrorist campaigns and the groups that wage them always do”
What are the three stages of the Maoist Insurgency?
Stage 1: Strategic Defensive: avoid pitched battles but limited tactical offensives where local superiority can be obtained. Aim is to stretch security forces
Stage 2: Stalemate: Prolonged battle to wear down adversary
Stage 3: Strategic Offensive: End game of conflict in which large insurgent forces overwhelm government forces and seize control of territory/state
What are the necessary conditions for counterinsurgency?
Support of population necessary
Government must function in accordance with the law
What are the necessary goals for counterinsurgency?
Legitimacy is the key objective
Government must prioritise defeating the political subversion, not the guerrillas
Counterinsurgents must prepare for a long-term commitment
What are the necessary strategies for counterinsurgency?
Good coordinating machine between civil and military agencies
Intelligence
Minimum use of force
What is the key differentiator between External and Internal counterinsurgency?
within the host nation or an external power?
