Transcript Document 7657730

Terrorism
A Conceptual Review
The Nature of the
Beast
Defining Terrorism
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Defining Extremism
Common Characteristics of Violent Extremists
The World of the Extremist
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Defining Extremism
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Intolerance in what someone believes.
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Intolerance in how someone expresses their beliefs.
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Violent expression is not a universal characteristic.
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Common Characteristics of Violent Extremists
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Intolerance.
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Moral absolutes.
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Broad conclusions.
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New language and conspiratorial beliefs.
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The World of the Extremist
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Different, often fantastic, worldview compared to
nonextremists.
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Basic belief that unjust forces are arrayed against
true believers.
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Clear sense of mission, purpose, and righteousness.
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Common Features of Definitions
Defining Terrorism in the United States
Types of Terrorism
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Common Features of Definitions
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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.
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Defining Terrorism in the United States
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No single definition has been adopted.
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Definitions have been developed from time to time
by government agencies.
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For example, by the Department of Defense, the U.S.
Code, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the
Department of State.
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Defining Terrorism in the United States
(continued)
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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.”
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Types of Terrorism
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A general consensus among experts about the types
of terrorism.
State Terrorism.
Dissident Terrorism.
Religious Terrorism.
Criminal Terrorism.
International Terrorism.
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Four Quotations
Participants in a Terrorist Environment
Terrorism or Freedom Fighting?
Extremism or “Mainstreamism”?
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Four Quotations
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“One Person’s Terrorist is Another Person’s Freedom
Fighter”
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“One Man Willing to Throw Away His Life is
Enough to Terrorize a Thousand”
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“Extremism in Defense of Liberty is No Vice”
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“It Became Necessary to Destroy the Town to Save
It”
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Participants in a Terrorist Environment
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The terrorist.
The supporter.
The victim.
The target.
The onlooker.
The analyst.
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Terrorism or Freedom Fighting?
Debate: Whether the use of political violence is
justifiable.
 Governments and dissidents always cite noble
aspirations to justify violence.
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Extremism or “Mainstreamism”?
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Debate: Whether political violence is always
manifested from a political fringe.
Do some political environments make extremism
justifiable within the mainstream?
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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.
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