Unit 02: Defining Terrorism

Question 1

The word “terrorism” dates from which century?

Answer 1

18th

Question 2

What event was generally accepted as the first to be commonly referred to as “terrorism”?

Answer 2

The Reign of Terror in France from 1792-1794.

Question 3

What formative notions as a political strategy grew during this time?

Answer 3

terror-tactics

Question 4

Fill in the blanks:
“… an act committed in whole or in part for a _________, ________ or ___________ purpose, objective or cause with the intention of ___________the public… with regard to its security, including its
________security, or compelling a person, a government or a domestic or an international organization to do or to refrain from doing any act.”
-Criminal Code of Canada, Section 83.01

Answer 4

political, religious, ideological, intimidating, economic

Question 5

Fill in the blanks using the word list at the bottom:
“The Government’s _____________ of threats must be _____, _______, and cannot be perceived as _________any groups. As we continue this review, it is apparent that in outlining a threat, it must be ______ linked to an ________ rather than a _________.”
-Public Safety Canada, 2019

Word List:
concise, communication, ideology, clear, community, clearly, maligning

Answer 5

Communication, clear, concise, maligning, clearly, ideology, community

Question 6

True or False: There is a definition of terrorism that has been adopted widely

Answer 6

False - there is no single definition of terrorism

Question 7

The lack of a common definition is characterized by different definitions of terrorism proposed/used by:

Answer 7

Governments
Individual agencies within governments
Private agencies
Academia

Question 8

In his 2007 work on Emergency Management related terms, Wayne Blanchard identifies no fewer than how many different references that relate to defining terrorism?

Answer 8

14

Question 9

Fill in the blanks:
Terrorism has a decidedly ________ meaning at present, so even those who commit extreme acts of political violence ____
___ perceive themselves as terrorists.

Answer 9

negative, will not

Question 10

By most legal and political definitions, terrorism involves:

Answer 10

The use or threat of extraordinary violence

Goal-directed or rational behaviour

The intent to have a psychological impact broader than the immediate victims

The choice of victims for their symbolic, rather than their instrumental value

Question 11

Fill in the blank:
Terrorism is a form of political violence in which terrorists have ________ objectives that they are attempting to achieve and have chosen ________ targets to ____ _________ to their cause.

Answer 11

specific, symbolic, draw attention

Question 12

What do terrorists hope that their violence or their threat of violence conveys?

Answer 12

both a threat to a target audience and a political message.

Question 13

What is often a result of social, political, or economic change?

Answer 13

Political violence, including terrorism

Question 14

Those promoting the change use what in order to draw attention to their cause and dissuade opposition?

Answer 14

violence or threat of violence

Question 15

Terrorists always claim what?

Answer 15

to champion noble causes

Question 16

Terrorists always cite what for violence?

Answer 16

righteous goals and justifications

Question 17

Terrorists maintain that they are what?

Answer 17

freedom fighters or revolutionaries.

Question 18

Terrorism is committed by who?

Answer 18

groups and movements that resist the power of the state, but also by states (governments and their proxies) to keep groups under control.

Question 19

The impact of terrorism today is not limited to what?

Answer 19

specific locales or region

Question 20

What century is the age of globalized terrorism?

Answer 20

21st

Question 21

How do terrorists see themselves, their acts, and targets?

Answer 21

highly symbolic

Question 22

Hate groups sometimes resemble terrorist groups, but not all hate crimes are acts of terrorism. When is it seen as terrorism?

Answer 22

only when (symbolic) “undesirables” are targeted to “purify” society (political motive)

Question 23

Terrorism does not have to be based on a violent act, so what is Bruce Hoffman’s definition?

Answer 23

the threat of violence may be enough for the “creation and exploitation of fear”

Question 24

Terrorism does not have to be based on a violent act, so what is Walter Reich’s definition?

Answer 24

terrorism “instill[s] fear in the public at large”

Question 25

Terrorism does not have to be based on a violent act, so what is Brian Jenkins’ definition?

Answer 25

terrorism ultimately seeks to effect “political change”

Question 26

Who are the four participants in the terrorist environment?

Answer 26

the terrorist
the supporter
the victim
the target

Question 27

Who or what is the terrorist in the terrorist enivironment?

Answer 27

the perpetrator of a politically violent incident

Question 28

Who are what is the supporter in the terrorist environment?

Answer 28

The person, people, and organizations that provide a supportive environment

Question 29

Who or what is the victim in the terrorist environment?

Answer 29

the victims of violence

Question 30

Who or what is the target in the terrorist environment?

Answer 30

someone who is usually symbolic, represents some features of the enemy, can be human or property, and can be a soft or hard target.

Question 31

What is Extremism a precursor to?

Answer 31

Terrorism

Question 32

Extremists hold beliefs that exceed limits of what average people hold to be true in terms of what?

Answer 32

practical applicability, and emotional resonance.

Question 33

Extremism can manifest itself in many ways, but only those who chose what are labelled terrorists?

Answer 33

violent expression

Question 34

What are the common characteristics of violent extremists?

Answer 34

Intolerance, Moral absolutes, broad conclusions, new language and conspiratorial beliefs

Question 35

To understand the roots of terrorism is to understand the nature of political violence, there are three possible ways, what are they?

Answer 35

as a strategic choice
as the fruit of injustice
moral justifications for political violence

Question 36

Fill in the blank:
Most experts agree that a blanket presumption that terrorists are mentally ill or insane is _________, and evidence shows that an individual’s decision to apply such violence may be explained as “________” or ______.

Answer 36

incorrect, rational, normal