Up to Exam 1 Flashcards
Collateral Damage
A term used to describe unintended casualties. Usually applied to civilians who have been mistakenly killed.
Dirty War
A term given to a campaign of state-sponsored terror waged in Argentina during the 1970’s. Tens of thousands of people were tortured, disappeared, or killed.
Extremism
A radical expression of political values.
Political opinions that are intolerant toward opposing interests and divergent opinions. Extremism forms the ideological foundation for political violence. Radical and reactionary extremists often rationalize and justify acts of violence committed on behalf of their cause.
Extremism can be a definition of terrorism, but doesn’t have to lead to terrorism. See themselves as a protector of a specific truth.
Clear sense of mission and purpose and righteousness
Typically in a group
“Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice”
An uncompromising belief in the absolute righteousness of a cause. A moralistic concept that clearly defines good and evil. The statement was made my Senator Barry Goldwater during the 1964 presidential election in the United States
Federal Bureau of Investigation
An investigative bureau within the U.S. Department of Justice, it is the largest federal law enforcement agency. Among its duties are domestic counterterrorism and intelligence collection
Freedom Fighter
One who fights on behalf of an oppressed group. A very contextual term
Guerrilla
A term first used during Spanish resistance against French occupation troops during the Napolenic Wars. It refers to irregular hit-and-run tactics.
Hezbollah
A Lebanese Shi’a movement that promotes Islamic revolution. It was prominent in the resistance against the Israeli presence in South Lebanon and frequently engaging in terrorism,
International Terrorism
Terrorism that is directed against targets symbolizing International interests. These attacks can occur against domestic targets that have international symbolism or against targets in the international arena.
“It became necessary to destroy the town to save it”
An extremist goal to destroy an existing order without developing a clear vision for the aftermath. A moralistic concept to justify terrorist behavior. The Statement was allegedly made by an American officer during the war in Vietnam
“Kill One Man, Terrorize a Thousand”
A paraphrasing of a quotation by the Chinese military philosopher Wu Ch’i. Variously ascribed to the Chinese military philosopher Sun Txu and Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
A nationalist group in Sri Lanka that champions the independence of the Tamil people. Responsible for many acts of terrorism
Narco-terrorism
Political violence committed by dissident drug traffickers who are primarily concerned with protecting their criminal enterprise. This is in contradistinction to drug-related violence.
“One man willing to throw away his life is enough to terrorize a thousand”
The symbolic power of a precise application of force by an individual who is willing to sacrifice himself or herself can terrorize many other people. A moralistic concept that illustrates how a weak adversary can influence a strong adversary. The statement was made by the Chinese military philosopher wu ch’i
“one man’s terrorist is another persons freedom fighter”
The importance of perspective in the use of violence to achieve political goals. Championed groups view violent rebels as freedom fighters, whereas their adversaries consider them terrorists
Palestine Liberation Organization PLO
an umbrella Palestinian nationalist organization. it comprises numerous activist factions, many of which engage in political violence
Provisional Irish Republican Army PROVOS
A terrorist organization in Northern Ireland that champions the rights of Northern Irish Catholics. The PIRA was formed with the goal of uniting Northern Ireland with the Irish Republic
Soft Targets
Civilian and other undefended targets that are easily victimized by terrorists
Terrorism
Elements from the American definitional model define terrorism as a premeditated and unlawful act in which groups or agents of some principal engage in a threatened or actual use of force or violence against human or property targets. These groups or agents engage in this behavior intending the purposeful intimidation of governments or people to affect policy or behavior with an underlying political objective. There are more than 100 definitions of terrorism.
Terrorist
One who practices terrorism. Often a highly contextual term
Third world
A postwar term created to describe the developing world
Wars of National Liberation
A series or wars fought in the developing world in the postwar era. These conflicts frequently pitted indigenous guerrilla fighters against European colonial powers or governments perceived as pro western. Insurgents were frequently supported by the Soviet Bloc or China
Al qaeda
An international network of Islamic mujahideen organized by Osama bin Laden in the aftermath of the anti-Soviet Jihad in Afghanistan. Responsible for many acts of international and domestic terrorism,
Anarchism
A political ideology developed during the 19th century that championed the working class and opposed central control by governments
Classical ideological continuum
Symbolic political designations derived from the French Revolution. The concepts of left, center, and right have become part of modern political culture.
Conservatism
A political ideology that seeks to preserve traditional values
Dictatorship of the Proletariat
The Marxist belief that the communist revolution will result in the establishment of a working class–centered government.
Far Left
The extremist, but not necessarily violent, left wing. Usually strongly influenced by Marxist ideology. Radical in political orientation.
Far Right
The extremist, but not necessarily violent, right wing. Reactionary in political orientation.
Fascism
An ideology developed during the mid-20th century that emphasized strong state-centered authority, extreme law and order, militarism, and nationalism. Variants of fascism were applied during the 1930s in Italy, Germany, and Spain, as well as in Latin America during the postwar era.
Fringe Left
The revolutionary left. Often violent.
Fringe right
The revolutionary right. Often violent.
Hauge Convention
A series of international agreements that tried to establish rules for conflict.
Ideologies
Systems of political belief
Left, Center, Right
Designations on the classical ideological continuum. The left tends to promote social change. The center tends to favor incremental change and the status quo. The right tends to favor traditional values
Luddites
A movement of English workers during the early 1800s. The Luddites objected to the social and economic transformations of the Industrial Revolution. They targeted the machinery of the new textile factories, and textile mills and weaving machinery were disrupted and sabotaged. After 17 Luddites were executed in 1813, the movement gradually died out.
Manifesto of the Communist party
The seminal document of communism, written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.
Manipulation of the Media
The attempt by state and substate participants in a terrorist environment to control or otherwise affect the reporting of news by the media.
Karl Marx
A mid-19th-century philosopher who, along with Friedrich Engels, developed the ideology of class struggle.
Marxism
An ideology that believes in the historical inevitability of class conflict, culminating in the final conflict that will establish the dictatorship of the proletariat.
Means of production
A Marxist concept describing the primary source of economic production and activity during the stages of human social evolution.
New Terrorism
A typology of terrorism characterized by a loose cell-based organizational structure, asymmetrical tactics, the threatened use of weapons of mass destruction, potentially high casualty rates, and usually a religious or mystical motivation.
Operation Iraqi Freedom
The designation given to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003.
Propaganda by the deed
The notion that revolutionaries must violently act on their beliefs to promote the ideals of the revolution. Originally promoted by the anarchists.
“Property is theft!”
The anarchist philosopher Pierre-Joseph Proudhon’s belief that systems based on the acquisition of private property are inherently exploitative.
Regicide
The killing of kings
Reign of Terror (régime de la terreur)
A period during the French Revolution when the new republic violently purged those who were thought a threat to the prevailing ideals of the revolution. Terrorism was considered a necessary and progressive revolutionary tactic.
Revolutionary Tribunal
The revolutionary court established during the French Revolution.
Sicarii
The Zealot rebels who opposed Roman rule. Named for the curved dagger, or sica, that was a preferred weapon.
Social Revolutionary Party
A Russian revolutionary movement during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The group adopted terrorism as a revolutionary method.
Struggle meetings
Revolutionary rallies held during the Chinese Revolution. Denunciations were often made against those thought to be a threat to the revolution
Total War
The unrestrained use of force against a broad selection of targets to utterly defeat an enemy.
Tyrannicide
The assassination of tyrants for the greater good of society.
Vanguard strategy
In Marxist and non-Marxist theory, the strategy of using a well-indoctrinated and motivated elite to lead the working-class revolution. In practice, this strategy was adopted in the postwar era by terrorist organizations and extremist movements.
Zealots
Hebrew rebels who uncompromisingly opposed Roman rule in ancient Palestine.
Common Characteristics of Violent terrorists
Intolerance
Moral absolutes
broad conclusions
new language/conspiratorial beliefs
Complications of Defining terrorism
Perspective: terrorist v freedom fighter
political and cultural biases
state v non state actors
Guerrilla warfare
different from terrorism
larger groups
attacking combatants
control of a population or territory
Elements of Terrorism
use or threat of use of pre-meditated violence that is politically motivated
violence is extra normal or exceeds moral conventions
mainly against soft targets/non combatants
sends a message to a broader message
Types of Terrorism
state
dissident/non-state
religious —- fits nicely in “good v evil” ideology
Objectives and goals of terrorism
changing existing goals psychological disruption social disruption creating a revolutionary environment overreaction creates other people to join the revolution playing to the audience
Critical approaches of Terrorism
They’re not all mad men
traditionalists have tunnel vision and don’t see the bigger picture
critical approach–criticize and give an alternative
Historical perspective
Antiquity the Roman ancient & the medieval middle east Dark ages Terrorism wasn't treated as something separate until much later
French Revolution
Term terrorism was first used
“The reign of Terror”
Late 1700’s started a different strategy
18th-19th century
Nation states began to exist
Terrorism started to “look” more like were used to today
Rapeport Waves
20-30 year waves
Ideology
systems of belief derived from theories that explain human social and political conditions
every ideology has extremists
where did the left and right come from
where the different ideologies sat in the assembly after the French revolution
The Just War Doctrine
reason why it would be ok to go to war
WAR is bad but ones reason to go to war is moral
New Era of terrorism
Three fundamental differences
1) International
“near enemy” (ones supporting western ideals in the Middle East) v “far enemy” (US and western countries)
2) New Mortality/ Indiscriminate
noncombatants and civilians “extraordinary”
3) Lethality
mass causality (scale)
weapons of mass destruction (bioweapons and technology)
Modern Era
Rapeport Waves
Late 1800’s - now
Anarchist wave: 1880s until WWI (Russian Revolution and Assassination of MicKinley)
Anticolonial wave: countries fighting against colonial powers WWI-1960’s
The New Left Wave: late 60’s to the near present. Usually referring to the soviet communist red army in the west (Cuba and Latin America)
Religious Wave: 1980’s to now
1979 overthrow in Iran hostage situation theological and religious government
religion became a justification
Traditional Terrorism characteristics
clearly identifiable
conventional weapons
specific grievances for a specific group
discriminate and “surgical”
New Terrorism characteristics
loose cell based networks
less likely to take credit
desired acquisition of high intensity weapons
politically vague, religious, or mystical motivation
Asymmetrical methods
Use of the internet and manipulation of the media
Absolute deprivation
A sociological term that indicates the lack of basic human needs for survival.
Abu Nidal Organization (ANO)
The designation given to Abu Nidal’s movement.
Act of political will
The notion that one can force change by an absolute commitment to a cause. All that is required is com-plete and uncompromising dedication to achieving one’s goals.
Black September
A campaign waged by the Jordanian army in September 1970 to suppress what was perceived as a threat to Jordanian sovereignty from Palestinian fighters and leaders based in Jordan.
Black Widows
The term given by the Russian media and authorities to Chechen women who participate in terrorist attacks against Russian interests. Many Black Widows engage in suicide operations, and such women volunteer, are manipu-lated, or are coerced to enlist. They are allegedly the relatives of Chechen men who have been killed in the conflict.
Bloody Sunday
An incident on January 30, 1972, in Lon-donderry, Northern Ireland, when British paratroopers fired on demonstrators, killing 13 people.
Codes of self-sacrifice
Philosophical, ideological, or reli-gious doctrines that create a warrior ethic in followers of the doc-trine. Codes of self-sacrifice instill a sense of a higher calling that allows for the adoption of a superior morality. Followers consider acts of violence carried out in the name of the code completely justifiable.
End justifies the means
A concept wherein the desired goal is so just that the methods used to obtain the goal are acceptable regardless of their immediate consequences.
Freedom Birds
A term given to female combatants in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
Kosovo
A region in southern Yugoslavia that many Serbs con-sider their spiritual homeland. It became an international flash point when ethnic Albanian Kosovars sought to secede from Yugoslavia.
