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The Literature on Terrorism
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# : |
10013 |
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Section : |
BOOK WORLD
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| Issue
Date : |
4 / 1986 |
1,651 Words |
| Author
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Mayer Nudell
Mayer Nudell is a former State Department staffer and is now
executive director of the Center of Terrorism and Subnational
Conflict, a division of the American Security Council
Foundation. |
Terrorism has become one of the most talked-about phenomena of our time. What constitutes terrorism and how to cope with it are questions that have prompted not only interest but a proliferation of books and articles written by a variety of specialists, ranging from academics to victims of terrorist attacks and on to those who profess to have the answer to combating the problem. Within this wealth of material are many insights if one carefully selects sources.
Terrorism is not mindless, random violence. It is calculated and focused to achieve its perpetrator's goals by striking at a vulnerable target in a way designed to attract maximum attention--all carefully planned to minimize risk to the greatest possible extent.
Knowing one's enemy is a time-honored maxim. In this context, it requires some familiarity with the groups engaging in acts of terrorism and their reasons for doing so. Next, an appreciation of current countermeasures is needed. Finally, if one intends to become a serious student of this phenomenon, some method of keeping abreast of current developments must be created.
What is Terrorism?
Figure 1 illustrates what I have come to call "The Dynamics of Terrorism." The figure depicts the interrelationships of the participants in an incident. The terrorist's political demands are directed against the authorities. In the order to exert pressure on them, the terrorist threatens the victim--who is often unable to influence directly the authorities' action(s), but who provides the terrorist with some leverage against the authorities and
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