7.4 Terrorism and political violence

Terrorism and political violence are complex forms of aggression aimed at achieving political goals. They involve unlawful acts, target civilians, and create fear. While terrorism is a type of political violence, not all political violence is terrorism.

These violent acts often stem from historical grievances, external interventions, or social disruption. Understanding the contexts, individual factors, and group dynamics behind them is crucial for developing effective prevention and response strategies.

Terrorism and Political Violence: Definitions and Distinctions

Defining Terrorism and Political Violence

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• Terrorism involves the unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians (hostage-taking, bombings), to pursue political aims and create fear and panic in a population
• Political violence refers to violence perpetrated by state (police brutality, genocide) or non-state actors (guerrilla warfare, insurgencies) to achieve political goals like regime change or policy concessions
• While terrorism is a form of political violence, not all political violence is terrorism since terrorism specifically targets civilians to generate fear while political violence may include military targets

Legitimacy and Legality of Terrorism and Political Violence

• Terrorism operates outside of recognized legal and political systems, making it unlawful and illegitimate
• Some forms of political violence, such as resistance against oppressive regimes (American Revolution, anti-apartheid struggle), may be considered legitimate by some even if not legally sanctioned
• Terrorist acts often have a symbolic dimension, like attacking landmarks (World Trade Center) or public events (Boston Marathon), to attract attention and make a political statement
• Political violence tends to be more instrumental in directly achieving political or military objectives like taking territory or overthrowing a government

Contexts of Terrorism and Political Violence

Historical and Political Grievances

• Terrorism and political violence often emerge from long-standing political grievances, repression, inequality, or perceived injustices
• These grievances can stem from historical legacies of colonialism (Irish Republican Army), ethnic or religious discrimination (Uighur separatists in China), lack of political representation (Palestinian nationalism), or economic marginalization (Naxalite insurgency in India)
• Failed or weak states that cannot maintain a monopoly on the legitimate use of force and meet the needs of their population (Somalia, Afghanistan) can enable terrorist or insurgent groups to form and challenge state authority

External Interventions and Resistance

• External intervention or occupation by foreign powers can provoke resentment and resistance in the form of terrorism or political violence
• Anti-colonial movements (Algerian War of Independence, Viet Cong) and resistance to foreign occupation (Iraqi insurgency post-2003) exemplify how external interference can fuel political violence
• The U.S. arming of mujahideen fighters in Afghanistan during the Soviet invasion in the 1980s demonstrates how foreign support for insurgencies can have long-term unintended consequences

Social Disruption and Ideological Mobilization

• Rapid social change, modernization, or disruption to traditional social structures (urbanization, globalization) can create alienation and anomie that make individuals receptive to radical ideologies
• Charismatic leaders or ideologues who articulate grievances and provide a compelling vision for political change can mobilize terrorism or political violence movements
• Examples include Osama bin Laden's articulation of a global jihadist ideology for al-Qaeda and Abdullah Ocalan's leadership of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in pursuit of Kurdish autonomy
• Access to resources like financing (state sponsorship, criminal enterprises), weapons (black markets, theft from military stockpiles), and safe havens (weak or sympathetic states) enables terrorist and insurgent groups to sustain their operations

Radicalization and Terrorist Behavior

Individual Psychological Factors

• Individuals seeking identity, meaning, and belonging, especially during key developmental periods like adolescence and early adulthood, are more vulnerable to radicalization
• Feelings of anger, humiliation, and desire for revenge in response to real or perceived grievances (discrimination, political exclusion, military occupation) can motivate individuals to embrace extremism
• "Lone wolf" terrorists often self-radicalize, facilitated by access to extremist content online (Christchurch mosque shooter, Unabomber), and carry out attacks without direct external support

Social Networks and Group Dynamics

• Social networks and interpersonal relationships play a key role in radicalization since extremist views are often adopted through trusted social connections with friends (radicalization in European Muslim diaspora communities) or family members (Boston Marathon bombers)
• Group dynamics within terrorist organizations, such as in-group/out-group bias, groupthink, and obedience to authority, reinforce extremist views and facilitate violence
• Socialization into a "culture of martyrdom" that glorifies self-sacrifice, such as suicide bombings (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, Palestinian Islamic Jihad), can lead individuals to volunteer for high-risk missions
• Dehumanization and moral disengagement allow terrorists to psychologically distance themselves from their victims (labeling them as "infidels" or "enemy combatants") and justify violence

Preventing and Responding to Terrorism and Political Violence

Addressing Root Causes

• Addressing underlying drivers of terrorism like political grievances, lack of opportunity, and state failure is key for long-term prevention
• Initiatives to reduce poverty (economic development programs), increase political participation (power-sharing agreements), resolve regional conflicts (Israeli-Palestinian peace process), and strengthen effective governance (anti-corruption efforts) can reduce the appeal of extremism
• Promoting social cohesion, cross-cultural dialogue, and religious tolerance (interfaith initiatives, inclusive national identities) can counter "us vs. them" narratives that fuel radicalization and legitimize violence against out-groups

Intelligence and Security Measures

• Intelligence gathering and surveillance to identify and disrupt terrorist plots before they materialize are critical preventive measures
• This includes monitoring extremist communications (signals intelligence), tracking finances (financial intelligence), and infiltrating terrorist networks (human intelligence)
• Protecting vulnerable targets through enhanced security measures like metal detectors, security perimeters, and personnel screening (airport security, fortification of government buildings) can deter or mitigate attacks
• Effective emergency response to minimize casualties in the event of an attack requires well-equipped and coordinated security, medical, and public safety personnel and protocols (interagency coordination, regular drills and exercises)

Deradicalization and International Cooperation

• Counter-radicalization programs aim to identify and intervene with individuals in the process of radicalization through counseling, mentoring, and vocational support (Saudi Arabia's Prevention, Rehabilitation and Aftercare program)
• Deradicalization programs for convicted terrorists, such as prison-based religious reeducation (Yemen's Committee for Dialogue), aim to reintegrate former militants into society and prevent recidivism
• International cooperation between governments in areas like intelligence sharing (Interpol, Five Eyes alliance), financing controls (Financial Action Task Force), and legal prosecution (extradition treaties, mutual legal assistance) is necessary to combat transnational terrorist threats