Terrorism Terrorism A Conceptual ReviewA Conceptual Review

The Nature of the The Nature of the BeastBeast

Defining TerrorismDefining Terrorism

Defining ExtremismDefining Extremism Common Characteristics of Violent Common Characteristics of Violent

ExtremistsExtremists The World of the ExtremistThe World of the Extremist

Defining ExtremismDefining Extremism

Intolerance in Intolerance in whatwhat someone believes. someone believes.

Intolerance in Intolerance in howhow someone expresses their someone expresses their beliefs.beliefs.

Violent expression is not a universal Violent expression is not a universal characteristic.characteristic.

Common Characteristics of Violent ExtremistsCommon Characteristics of Violent Extremists

Intolerance.Intolerance.

Moral absolutes.Moral absolutes.

Broad conclusions.Broad conclusions.

New language and conspiratorial beliefs.New language and conspiratorial beliefs.

The World of the ExtremistThe World of the Extremist

Different, often fantastic, worldview compared Different, often fantastic, worldview compared to nonextremists.to nonextremists.

Basic belief that unjust forces are arrayed Basic belief that unjust forces are arrayed against true believers.against true believers.

Clear sense of mission, purpose, and Clear sense of mission, purpose, and righteousness.righteousness.

Common Features of DefinitionsCommon Features of Definitions Defining Terrorism in the United StatesDefining Terrorism in the United States Types of TerrorismTypes of Terrorism

Common Features of DefinitionsCommon Features of Definitions

The use of illegal force.The use of illegal force. Subnational actors.Subnational actors. Unconventional methods.Unconventional methods. Political motives.Political motives. Attacks on “soft” civilian & passive military Attacks on “soft” civilian & passive military

targets.targets. Acts aimed at purposefully affecting an audience.Acts aimed at purposefully affecting an audience.

Defining Terrorism in the United StatesDefining Terrorism in the United States

No single definition has been adopted.No single definition has been adopted.

Definitions have been developed from time to Definitions have been developed from time to time by government agencies.time by government agencies.

For example, by the Department of Defense, For example, by the Department of Defense, the U.S. Code, the Federal Bureau of the U.S. Code, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of State.Investigation, and the Department of State.

Defining Terrorism in the United States Defining Terrorism in the United States (continued)(continued)

Composite American definition: “Premeditated Composite American definition: “Premeditated and unlawful act in which groups or agents of and unlawful act in which groups or agents of some principal engage in a threatened or actual some principal engage in a threatened or actual use of force or violence against human or use of force or violence against human or property targets. These groups or agents property targets. These groups or agents engage in this behavior intending the purposeful engage in this behavior intending the purposeful intimidation of governments or people to affect intimidation of governments or people to affect policy or behavior with an underlying political policy or behavior with an underlying political objective.”objective.”

Types of TerrorismTypes of Terrorism

A general consensus among experts about the A general consensus among experts about the types of terrorism.types of terrorism.

State Terrorism.State Terrorism. Dissident Terrorism.Dissident Terrorism. Religious Terrorism.Religious Terrorism. Criminal Terrorism.Criminal Terrorism. International Terrorism.International Terrorism.

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

Four QuotationsFour Quotations

““One Person’s Terrorist is Another Person’s One Person’s Terrorist is Another Person’s Freedom Fighter”Freedom Fighter”

““One Man Willing to Throw Away His Life is One Man Willing to Throw Away His Life is Enough to Terrorize a Thousand”Enough to Terrorize a Thousand”

““Extremism in Defense of Liberty is No Vice”Extremism in Defense of Liberty is No Vice”

““It Became Necessary to Destroy the Town to It Became Necessary to Destroy the Town to Save It”Save It”

Participants in a Terrorist EnvironmentParticipants in a Terrorist Environment

The terrorist.The terrorist. The supporter.The supporter. The victim.The victim. The target.The target. The onlooker.The onlooker. The analyst.The analyst.

Terrorism or Freedom Fighting?Terrorism or Freedom Fighting? Debate: Whether the use of political violence Debate: Whether the use of political violence

is justifiable.is justifiable. Governments and dissidents always cite noble Governments and dissidents always cite noble

aspirations to justify violence.aspirations to justify violence.

Extremism or “Mainstreamism”?Extremism or “Mainstreamism”? Debate: Whether political violence is always Debate: Whether political violence is always

manifested from a political fringe.manifested from a political fringe. Do some political environments make Do some political environments make

extremism justifiable within the mainstream?extremism justifiable within the mainstream?

2X2 Table2X2 Table Combatants and NoncombatantsCombatants and Noncombatants Use of Discriminate or Indiscriminate Use of Discriminate or Indiscriminate

ForceForce Violent Environments Resulting From Use Violent Environments Resulting From Use

of Forceof Force Total war.Total war. Total war/unrestricted terrorism.Total war/unrestricted terrorism. Limited war.Limited war. State repression/restricted terrorism.State repression/restricted terrorism.