Study Unit 3 Terrorism PDF

9/12/2023 Learning outcomes Define the concept terrorism Provide an overview of the causes of terrorism. Discuss the psychological motives of terrorism. Terrorism Study Unit 3 Provide a comprehensive discussion of the different types of terrorism and violent groups. Provide a comprehensive discu...

9/12/2023 Learning outcomes Define the concept terrorism Provide an overview of the causes of terrorism. Discuss the psychological motives of terrorism. Terrorism Study Unit 3 Provide a comprehensive discussion of the different types of terrorism and violent groups. Provide a comprehensive discussion of the role of women in terrorist groups Dr K George 2 Defining Terrorism Defining Terrorism: Conceptual issues ▪ “The ▪ Violence, harm, and threats - Many definitions take for granted that terrorism necessarily involves the use of violence or force. Against this requirement, it is worth noting that whereas acts identified as “terrorism” are typically intended to harm their victims, not all harm-intending actions involve violence. In November 2001, letters containing anthrax pores were mailed to selected US news outlets and members of the US Senate. Five people died and 17 people fell ill as a result. This was described as a terrorist act. - Some threats that involve no actual harm may also qualify as acts of terrorism. On 21 October 2008, the Associated press reported that more than 30 letters containing a suspicious white powder had been delivered to Chase bank branches. The letters included a threatening communication implying that the recipients were going to die. Test subsequently identified the powder as harmless calcium. - (Not in the article – class notes only) use of force or the threat of force to achieve a political end”. ▪ Definition has been modified in recent years to read “to achieve a political or criminal end” ▪ Terrorism is the unlawful use or threat of violence against persons or property to further political or social objectives. ▪ Generally intended to intimidate or coerce a government, individuals or groups to modify their behaviour or policies. (Not in the article – class notes only) 3 4 1 9/12/2023 Defining Terrorism: Conceptual issues ▪ Terror, fear and intimidation - Acts of terrorism always involve actual or intended generation of terror. ▪ Psychological coercion - Terrorism involve coercion intended to force a target audience to comply with explicitly stated demands. - Some terrorists acts may have as their important aim to publicize the terrorists’ cause, to inspire sympathetic observers to join their ranks, to improve morale among supporters, or any number of other motivations. (Not in the article – class notes only) 5 Causes of terrorism (cont….) ▪ - Direct Root Causes Related to absolute poverty, exclusion and social inequality can be sources of conflict when combined with other factors, and also terrorism. Poverty and inequality, especially when affecting distinct national, religious, cultural, and/or ethnic groups—so called horizontal inequalities—is a breeding ground for conflict. dispossession, human rights abuse, alienation, and humiliation are sources of conflict that are also linked to terrorism. Physical dispossession and the perception of a denial of rightful resources or territory is a common thread to certain types of terrorism. Terrorist leaders seek support from people who feel humiliated, threatened, aggrieved and without help” and that “Terrorism is thus often linked to a sense of injustice and impotence rather than sheer poverty. In conditions of poor governance, rampant corruption, and human right abuses, terrorism flourishes. Roots lie in the politics of exclusion and the emergence of a triad of dispossession, empowerment, and an ideology that justifies violence. A clash of values, especially associated with ideological or “religious” terrorism, has been posited as a root cause of certain types of terrorism. As a result of globalization, value systems have increasingly come into contact and in some cases into tension, creating the perception or fear of cultural imperialism and hegemony. This is not necessarily a religious clash, but a cultural clash. (Not in the article – class notes only) 7 Causes of terrorism Permissive structural factors Poverty of resources, combined with poverty of prospects, choices and respect, help enable terrorism to thrive. Poverty can breed resentment and desperation and support for political extremism. In addition, as well as providing grounds for grievance, poverty often means underdevelopment, poor or weak governance, or failed states, something that has been referred to as “back holes” within which fanaticism can emerge. - Poor societies often make for weak states, which may not have the capacity to prevent terrorist activity or recruitment. They also lack the capacity for the types of education programs that might reduce support for terrorism. It has thus been argued that “states that lack legitimacy and control over the economy and other traditional levers of power provide the space and oxygen for terrorists groups to flourish. - Yet, as is often pointed out, the active supporters of most terrorist organizations are not poor or uneducated. - Demographic factors have also been presented as key background conditions. Significant demographic conditions include rapid population growth, and especially a burgeoning of young males; and uneven population shifts across different ethnic groups - Urbanization—especially in conjunction with unemployment and poverty—can generate a disaffected population, which enables terrorist recruitment and organization (Not in the article – class notes only) ▪ - 6 Psychological motives for terrorism ▪ A desire to be regarded as special is the most common and strong motive ▪ Desire to be known to target audience is a strong motive ▪ Desire to be vicariously approved of by members of one’s own reference group ▪ Desire to achieve personal congruence by aligning actions with ideological/religious convictions ▪ Desire to affiliate and be with others of a like mind ▪ The experience of social and psychological isolation resulting in little interface with other views ▪ Vengeance for originally offended individuals who were perceived to have been unjustly treated by members/representatives of the target group ▪ Experience of an insult to the person’s grandiose sense of self, but not necessarily a serious personal loss in the hands of the target group (Not in the article – class notes only) 8 2 9/12/2023 Types of terrorism and violent groups Three categories of domestic terrorist groups: ▪ Left wing extremists - Would like to see the creation of a nation in which means of production will be commonly owned; - Every person will receive what he/she needs and contribute what he/she can best produce; - Usually referred to as ‘dictatorship of the proletariat’. ▪ Right wing extremists - They generally foster any number of radical beliefs, and many groups foster a strong central gov that espouses a “ fascist state will all of its nationalist and supremacist philosophies. ▪ Single-issue groups - Single issue groups which in many cases encompass legitimate protests movements, frequently involve fringe elements willing to use violence to achieve their ends. Some of these include: Animal rights extremists Environmental or ecological radicals Anti-abortion activists Anti-genetic & other violent opponents of “scientific engineering”, such as stem cell research. (Not in 9the article – class notes only) Types of terrorism and violent groups….cont ▪ Agro-terrorist activities - Agro-terrorism can be defined as the intentional introduction of a plant pathogen, virus or another biological agent to kill crops or animals - Attacks on farms ranches and feedlots represent a threat because they are generally unprotected. - Agro-terrorism is considered an increasingly serious ecological and economic problem of the 21st century and potentially a driver of environmental change and economic hardship worldwide ▪ Anti-abortion violent offenders - Consists largely of individuals and groups operating peacefully & within the law to end legalised abortion, or shut down clinics - Most illegal activities consists of disorderly conduct, “staged” arrests & letter campaigns identifying doctors who carry out abortions. (Not in11 the article – class notes only) Types of terrorism and violent groups….cont ▪ Ecological movements - Also known as ecotage or ecoterrorism involves efforts by groups to protect the environment. - Is a broad and loosely organized amalgam of individuals, groups and organizations that condone radical (i.e., non-legal) actions to realize a world in which both animals and the environment are fully respected. Most of their radical actions are aimed at exposing or stopping environmental destruction and animal abuse. - E.g. driving spikes into trees to prevent lumbering, pouring sand into the gas tanks of vehicles, arson, and other forms of sabotage. ▪ Animal rights groups - Deeply committed to their cause and difficult to trace - There’s no real leadership - Decisions are made by the groups, which tend to be loosely organised. - No one really knows who else is in the organisation (Not in the article – class notes only) 10 Women in Terrorism: Gender Status and Motivations The attitude toward violence in general and terrorist violence in particular is differentiated along gender lines ▪ Throughout history, women have participated in various militant activities ▪ There is a curious surge in women’s voluntary engagement in terrorist acts, which aim at killing perceived enemies and innocent civilians alike ▪ Some women terrorists’ childhood experience and adolescent psychological trauma might be their reason for taking part in terrorist violence in adulthood ▪ Women might perceive their participation as a means to achieving a greater social good while men are typically motivated by power, women are more attracted to the prospect of improved living conditions and life opportunities for their children as well as addressing their needs that are not adequately met by the established political regime (Page 803-804 of the article) https://UnivofPretoria.on.worldcat.org/oclc/6894789566 12 ▪ 3 9/12/2023 Women in Terrorism: Gender Status and Motivations (cont….) ▪ Nationalist sentiment, social, educational, and physical repression, and the promise of women’s liberation motivated women ▪ Coercion, religious mandate, fear of retaliation, and concerns for personal safety can also serve as important motivating forces attracting women’s participation ▪ Women’s participation might be driven by an explicit feminist agenda to improve their status in the group in particular and society in general ▪ The status of women’s rights may have an important effect on women’s participation in terrorism on a global scale ▪ Page 803-804 of the article) Why Women?: The Advantages of Women Terrorists ▪ Women’s participation can yield mainly four types of benefits for terrorist or militaristic organizations: - Their skill and expertise in caregiving and auxiliary support that might be needed by the group - Strategic advantage uniquely embedded in the imagery and social perception of feminist pacifism - The important symbolic value embedded in motherhood and martyrdom or maternal sacrifice - Women provide physical, emotional, and psychological solace to their male counterparts (Page 805 of the article) 13 14 Why Women?: The Advantages of Women Terrorists (cont….) Why Women?: The Advantages of Women Terrorists (cont….) ▪ Key reasons that might explain the increasing deployment of female suicide bombers: - Women suicide terrorists capitalize and thrive on ‘element of surprise’ - They can take advantage of cultural reluctance toward physical searches to evade detection. - Given their seemingly feminine facade, they are categorically perceived as gentle and non-threatening. - Further, they constitute a potentially large pool of recruits, a resource that terrorist organizations can draw from and cash in on. - Symbolically, the death of women bombers is more likely to evoke a feeling of desperation and sympathy than does the demise of male bombers, thus potently fueling the resolve for revenge. (Page 805 of the article) ▪ 15 The increasing number of arrests has thinned out the male fighters and dented the operational capability of these networks. They can get closer to their targets without being suspected. Women are usually considered to be passive and non-violent, and are thus subjected to less rigorous security checks. ▪ As females do not conform to any profile that would trigger law enforcement red flags, their radicalisation is less noticed by people in their social surroundings. For instance, the presence of women in militant dens is less likely to arouse public suspicion as they are assumed to be unlikely perpetrators of terrorist violence. ▪ At the strategic level, female attackers attract more publicity and media attention, as they are perceived to generate greater psychological impact on the adversary or the target audience. Even symbolic participation by female militants in combat and training activities attracts more media attention compared to their male counter-parts. All these imperatives often make female members „highly effective‟ actors for their organisations. (Not in the article – class notes only) ▪ 16 4 9/12/2023 Characteristics of terrorists ▪ Individual characteristics - Terrorists tend to be young - Positive relationship between age and a consenting view toward political violence - Positive association between level of education and economic status and the likelihood of becoming suicide bombers - Individuals with higher education may have a higher expectation for acquiring professional advancement in terrorists groups - Educated individuals may espouse a more profound empathy and ideological or religious affinity with the organization and hence be more poised to help accomplish the goals of the organizations - Positive relationship between support for the use of political violence and educational level - Individuals with more advanced education are more likely to engage in terrorist attacks. (Page 806 of the article) 17 5