terrorism

terrorism

systematic use of violence and intimidation to achieve some goal
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Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

terrorism

a form of politically motivated action combining psychological (fear inducing) and physical (violent action) components carried out by individuals or small groups with the aim of inducing communities or states to meet the terrorists’ demands. The concept remains notoriously difficult to define with any precision. The major problem is summarized in the adage that ‘one person's terrorist is another person's freedom fighter’. The issue is complicated further because some would argue that acts of terrorism do not belong exclusively to the politically motivated but may also be employed by criminals and psychopaths. However, political terrorism can be thought of as the use of violence by a group either acting on behalf of, or in opposition to, an established political authority In broad terms, it is possible to identify three major types of politically motivated terrorist behaviour:

1. revolutionary terrorism;
2. sub-revolutionary terrorism; and
3. terrorist action which is essentially repressive in nature (see also TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS). Thus it is also necessary to differentiate between terrorism which is perpetrated by the state itself (see STATE TERRORISM) and actions which are undertaken by groups in pursuit of political change. Finally, it is possible to identify ‘INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM’, i.e. acts of terrorism which transcend the boundaries of one state. The tactics adopted by terrorists have been widespread. including kidnapping, bombs in public places, the ‘hijacking’ of aeroplanes, attacks on property, the extortion of ransom, raids on banks, and state oppression, arrests and torture.

Rubenstein (1987) suggests that terrorism usually springs from the political alienation of the INTELLIGENTSIA from both the ruling class and the masses. The former engages in repression and the latter is indifferent. This combination is particularly likely to appear in colonial situations although it may occur in any country where a social crisis generated by rapid and uneven economic development isolates intellectuals from the masses for whom they wish to act as political spokesman. The other precondition for terrorism occurs when a reform movement collapses or when it appears that such movement will not succeed in restructuring society. For advocates of terrorism, individual or small-group violence becomes the only means that can expose the fragility of the ruling class, raise the consciousness of the masses, and attract new members and supporters to the movement. Rubenstein shares the Marxist view that terrorists have rarely gained mass working-class support and have usually been ineffective in making social revolutions. As an instrument of political change, however, terrorism has often been effective, e.g. as an adjunct of nationalist movements.

Collins Dictionary of Sociology, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2000

Terrorism

Al Fata

Palestine Liberation movement’s terrorist organization. [Arab. Hist.: Wigoder, 186]

Baader-Meinhof gang

German terrorists. [Ger. Hist.: Facts (1978), 114–115]

Black Panthers

militant black revolutionists and civil-rightists. [Am. Hist.: Flexner, 46]

Gestapo

Nazi secret police; executors of “Final Solution.” [Ger. Hist.: Wigoder, 211]

IRA

the Irish Republican Army; long history of terror and violence. [Irish Hist.: NCE, 1365–1366]

Ku Klux Klan

post-Civil War white supremacist organization used terrorist tactics against blacks. [Am. Hist.: NCE, 1505]

Nazis

(National Socialism) spread fear and terror throughout Hitler’s Germany. [Ger. Hist.: NCE, 1894]

Red Brigade

Italian terrorist group; assassinated Aldo Moro (1978). [Ital. Hist.: Facts (1978), 133]

Reign of Terror

(1793–1794) revolutionary government made terror its means of suppression, by edict (September 5, 1793). [Fr. Hist.: EB, IX: 904]

Symbionese Liberation Army

small terrorist group that kid-napped Patty Hearst (1974–1975). [Am. Hist.: Facts (1974), 105]

Weathermen

American terrorist group against the “Establishment.” [Am. Hist.: Facts (1972), 384]

Allusions—Cultural, Literary, Biblical, and Historical: A Thematic Dictionary. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.