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Power Point Accompaniment for the Consortium’s Lesson:

One Man’s Terrorist, Another Man’s Freedom

Fighter

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What is terrorism?

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Webster’s Dictionary Definition of Terrorism

The systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion

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FBI’s Definition of Terrorism

The unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.

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~Alex P. Schmid’s Definition of Terrorism

Act of Terrorism =

Peacetime Equivalent of War Crime

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UN Definition of Terrorism The UN does not have a universally accepted definition of ‘terrorism’ that has been adopted by all the member nations. This definition was adopted by the Security Council Members in the wake of the September 11th attacks: Criminal acts, including against civilians, committed with the intent to cause death or serious bodily injury, or taking of hostages, with the purpose to provoke a state of terror in the general public or in a group of persons or particular persons, intimidate a population or compel a government or an international organization to do or to abstain from doing any act. ~UN Security Council Resolution 1566

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Justifications for Terrorism

Claim to champion noble causes ◦ “We are fighting to establish our own homeland.”

Cite religious goals to justify their behavior ◦ “God wants us to do this.”

Perpetrators of violent acts maintain that they are freedom fighters

◦ “We are fighting an oppressive government.”

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Types of Terrorism

State Terrorism

Dissident Terrorism

Religious Terrorism

Criminal Terrorism

International Terrorism

It is important to note that terrorist acts can fall under more than one category.

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State Terrorism

“From above”

Committed by governments against perceived enemies

Can be done inside and outside of state’s borders

Example: ◦ Nazi persecution of Jews and other

“enemies of the state”.

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Dissident Terrorism “From below”

Committed by non-state movements and groups against governments, ethno-national groups, religious groups, and other perceived enemies.

Examples: ◦ Irish Republican Army bombing

targets in Britain

◦ Ku Klux Klan intimidating “non-Whites”

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Religious Terrorism Terrorism motivated by an absolute belief that an otherworldly power has sanction – and commanded – the application of terrorist violence for the greater glory of the faith

Example: ◦ Al Qaeda attacking the United

States on September 11, 2001

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Criminal Terrorism

Terrorism motivated by sheer profit, or some combination of profit and politics

Examples: ◦ Mafia ordering a hit on a rival

◦ Drug Lord Pablo Escobar bombing a plane

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International Terrorism Terrorism that spills over onto the world stage

Targets are selected because of their value as symbols of international interests

Example: ◦ September 11, 2001

What do you think the Twin Towers and Pentagon represented to many people throughout the world?

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1st Century BCE-13th Century: Terrorism in the Pre-Modern World:

Sicarri Zealots ◦ Jewish

◦ From Judea, modern day Israel

◦ Weapon of Choice: Daggers

◦ Saw Romans as their enemies so they would murder Romans and Jews who collaborated with Romans

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1st Century BCE-13th Century: Terrorism in the Pre-Modern World

Hashshashin Leader:

Hassam-I Sabbah

Hashshashin ◦ Word “assassin” is believed to have

been derived from this group

◦ Sect of Shia Muslims

◦ From modern day Iran

◦ Sent one person to kill a key enemy leader because they were such a small group – could not compete in open combat

◦ Assassination missions were suicidal – they would kill their target and then wait next to the body until someone showed up to kill them

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Why do we care about the Zealots and the Hashshashins?

Forerunners of modern terrorists in aspects of: ◦ Motivations: Religious and Political ◦ Organization ◦ Targeting ◦ Goals

Ultimately failures

◦ Didn’t bring about changes they wanted, but they are still discussed today because they were forerunners for modern terrorists

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The French Revolution

Provided first use of words: “Terror” and “Terrorist”

Reign of Terror (1795): ◦ State Terrorism

◦ Revolutionary Government would execute perceived “enemies of the state”

◦ Done publicly to terrorize enemies of state and force them to submit

◦ Weapon of Choice: guillotine

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“Subdue by terror the enemies of liberty, & you will be right, as founders of the Republic.”

~Maximilien Robespierre

According to this quote, what did Robespierre use to justify the “Reign of Terror?”

What type of justification for terrorism is this?

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Late 19th and Early 20th Century

Terrorism during this period was usually defined by assassination of political leaders

Examples: ◦ Assassination of Archduke

Franz Ferdinand

◦ Assassination of President William McKinley

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Assassination of President

McKinley

Assassination of Franz

Ferdinand

Late 19th and Early 20th Century

Both of McKinley’s and Ferdinand’s assassinations were political in nature.

◦ McKinley’s assassin was an anarchist

◦ Ferdinand’s assassin was a Serbian nationalist

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1950 - 70: The Rise of Non-State Terrorism

The rise of guerrilla tactics by non-state actors in the last half of the twentieth century was due to several factors.

◦ Rise of ethnic nationalism (e.g. Irish, Basque, Zionist)

◦ Anti-colonial sentiments in the vast British, French and other empires

◦ New ideologies such as Communism

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1950 - 70: The Rise of Non-State Terrorism Changes in tactics:

◦ Target government leaders & civilians

◦ Plane hijackings

◦ Bombing of buildings and airplanes

◦ Taking hostages

Terrorism becomes international

◦ Groups attack various nation-states around the globe

Terrorism as highly theatrical, symbolic acts of violence by organized groups with specific political grievances

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Modern Terrorist Methods

Bombings ◦ Suicide

◦ Car bombs

◦ “Traditional Bombs”

Hijackings

Poisonous Gasses

Guns

Taking Hostages

Using planes as missiles

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Munich Massacre 1972 Summer Olympics

Munich, West Germany ◦ International terrorism

Members of the Israeli Olympic team were taken hostage and eventually murdered by Black September – a Palestinian militant group

Justified the attacks by saying they were responding to Israel’s violence against the Palestinian people – Not a religious justification

Significant because: ◦ Most of the world was watching the

Olympics on TV ◦ Used international media to draw attention

to their cause 26

80’s, 90’s and Beyond The 1980’s and 90’s saw a rise in religious terrorism

The most VISIBLE was a rise in terrorism using Islamic ideas as justification

Much of this was due to the 1979 Iranian Revolution

◦ The government, backed by “the West,” was overthrown and an Islamic theocracy was put in place

◦ In the Muslim world it triggered enormous enthusiasm and redoubled opposition to western intervention and influence

NOTE: Islam is not the only religion being used to justify violence against enemies.

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80’s, 90’s and Beyond

The 80’s and 90’s saw a rise in the number of suicide attacks

These were not all religiously motivated

Examples : ◦ 1983 bombing of US

barracks in Lebanon ◦ Tamil Tigers using suicide

tactic against Sri Lankan government

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80’s, 90’s and Beyond • The most infamous example

of terrorism is the September 11th Attack on the United States.

• It was a culmination of many different types of terrorism and terrorist tactics. ◦ What type of terrorism do the

September 11th attacks fall under?

◦ What tactics were used during the September 11th attacks?

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Sources

http://www.m-w.com

http://www.fbi.gov/publications/terror/terror2000_2001.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definition_of_terrorism

Martin, Gus. Understanding Terrorism: Challenges, Perspectives, and Issues. 2nd. London: Sage Publications, 2006. Print.

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