Terrorism A Conceptual Review

The Nature of the Beast Defining Terrorism

 Defining Extremism  Common Characteristics of Violent Extremists  The World of the Extremist

 Defining Extremism  Intolerance in what someone believes.  Intolerance in how someone expresses their beliefs.  Violent expression is not a universal characteristic.

 Common Characteristics of Violent Extremists  Intolerance.  Moral absolutes.  Broad conclusions.  New language and conspiratorial beliefs.

 The World of the Extremist  Different, often fantastic, worldview compared to nonextremists.  Basic belief that unjust forces are arrayed against true believers.  Clear sense of mission, purpose, and righteousness.

 Common Features of Definitions  Defining Terrorism in the United States  Types of Terrorism

 Common Features of Definitions  The use of illegal force.  Subnational actors.  Unconventional methods.  Political motives.  Attacks on “soft” civilian & passive military targets.  Acts aimed at purposefully affecting an audience.

 Defining Terrorism in the United States  No single definition has been adopted.  Definitions have been developed from time to time by government agencies.  For example, by the Department of Defense, the U.S. Code, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of State.

 Defining Terrorism in the United States (continued)  Composite American definition: “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.”

 Types of Terrorism  A general consensus among experts about the types of terrorism.  State Terrorism.  Dissident Terrorism.  Religious Terrorism.  Criminal Terrorism.  International Terrorism.

 Four Quotations  Participants in a Terrorist Environment  Terrorism or Freedom Fighting?  Extremism or “Mainstreamism”?

 Four Quotations  “One Person’s Terrorist is Another Person’s Freedom Fighter”  “One Man Willing to Throw Away His Life is Enough to Terrorize a Thousand”  “Extremism in Defense of Liberty is No Vice”  “It Became Necessary to Destroy the Town to Save It”

 Participants in a Terrorist Environment  The terrorist.  The supporter.  The victim.  The target.  The onlooker.  The analyst.

 Terrorism or Freedom Fighting?  Debate: Whether the use of political violence is justifiable.  Governments and dissidents always cite noble aspirations to justify violence.  Extremism or “Mainstreamism”?  Debate: Whether political violence is always manifested from a political fringe.  Do some political environments make extremism justifiable within the mainstream?

 2X2 Table  Combatants and Noncombatants  Use of Discriminate or Indiscriminate Force  Violent Environments Resulting From Use of Force  Total war.  Total war/unrestricted terrorism.  Limited war.  State repression/restricted terrorism.