Chapter One: The Criminology and Controversy of Terrorism

Chapter One:Chapter One:

The Criminology and Controversy The Criminology and Controversy of Terrorismof Terrorism

Why Definitions are ImportantWhy Definitions are Important

Why Definitions are ImportantWhy Definitions are Important Why do people argue about the Why do people argue about the

meaning of terrorism?meaning of terrorism? Meaning changesMeaning changes It is a conceptIt is a concept Means different things at different timesMeans different things at different times

Why Definitions are ImportantWhy Definitions are Important

Pejorative Connotation of TerrorismPejorative Connotation of Terrorism Political and social degradation when Political and social degradation when

labeled a terroristlabeled a terrorist Routine crimes assume greater Routine crimes assume greater

importance when described as terrorismimportance when described as terrorism Political movement can be hampered Political movement can be hampered

when followers believed to be terroristswhen followers believed to be terrorists

Why Definitions are ImportantWhy Definitions are Important Definitions of Terrorism from Various Definitions of Terrorism from Various

Interest GroupsInterest Groups Law EnforcementLaw Enforcement GovernmentsGovernments Advocating for redistribution of wealthAdvocating for redistribution of wealth Pro-life/Pro-choicePro-life/Pro-choice

Definitions of TerrorismDefinitions of Terrorism

Definitions of TerrorismDefinitions of Terrorism Jenkins: Threat or use of force for Jenkins: Threat or use of force for

political changepolitical change Laqueur: Use of force to achieve Laqueur: Use of force to achieve

political objective; targets innocent political objective; targets innocent peoplepeople

Crenshaw: Cannot be defined Crenshaw: Cannot be defined without analysis of act, target, and without analysis of act, target, and possibility of successpossibility of success

Definitions of TerrorismDefinitions of Terrorism Herman: Defined in terms of state Herman: Defined in terms of state

repressionrepression Schmid: Meaning is derived from Schmid: Meaning is derived from

targets and victims of terroriststargets and victims of terrorists Barnett: Terrorists do not have Barnett: Terrorists do not have

vested interest in maintaining vested interest in maintaining political/economic structures because political/economic structures because they do not benefit from themthey do not benefit from them

The Meaning of the War on The Meaning of the War on TerrorismTerrorism

The Meaning of the War on The Meaning of the War on TerrorismTerrorism

Arguments accepting the war with Arguments accepting the war with terrorism:terrorism: FriedmanFriedman BlankBlank CohenCohen HillHill

The Meaning of the War on The Meaning of the War on TerrorismTerrorism

Argument that does not accept the Argument that does not accept the war on terrorism:war on terrorism: Howard—terrorism is an emergency Howard—terrorism is an emergency

situation best handled by intelligence situation best handled by intelligence and law enforcement servicesand law enforcement services

The Tactics of TerrorismThe Tactics of Terrorism

The Tactics of TerrorismThe Tactics of Terrorism Jenkins’ six tactics of terrorism:Jenkins’ six tactics of terrorism:

Bombing (most common)Bombing (most common) HijackingHijacking ArsonArson AssaultAssault KidnappingKidnapping Hostage TakingHostage Taking

Weapons of mass destruction?Weapons of mass destruction?

Tactics of TerrorismTactics of Terrorism Four Force Multipliers:Four Force Multipliers:

TechnologyTechnology Transnational support networksTransnational support networks Media coverageMedia coverage Religious fanaticismReligious fanaticism

How Terrorists Groups Justify How Terrorists Groups Justify BehaviorBehavior

How Terrorist Groups Justify How Terrorist Groups Justify BehaviorBehavior

Justification for violenceJustification for violence Consumed with the causeConsumed with the cause

Reasons potential terrorists join Reasons potential terrorists join groups:groups: Sympathy for the causeSympathy for the cause Social misfitsSocial misfits

How Terrorist Groups Justify How Terrorist Groups Justify BehaviorBehavior

Post’s Motivational TheoriesPost’s Motivational Theories No single terrorist personalityNo single terrorist personality Social outcasts who fall in with like-Social outcasts who fall in with like-

minded individualsminded individuals ““Us against them” mentalityUs against them” mentality Antisocial behavior rewarded and Antisocial behavior rewarded and

reinforced within this groupreinforced within this group Rejection of external authority; Rejection of external authority;

acceptance of internal authorityacceptance of internal authority

How Terrorists Groups Justify How Terrorists Groups Justify BehaviorBehavior

Stern’s View on Group Cohesion:Stern’s View on Group Cohesion: ““Us against them” mentality against Us against them” mentality against

common enemycommon enemy Group must have a story/mythology to Group must have a story/mythology to

inspire and guide membersinspire and guide members Group needs own language or symbolic Group needs own language or symbolic

words to demonize enemywords to demonize enemy

How Terrorist Groups Justify How Terrorist Groups Justify BehaviorBehavior

Berlet and Lyons:Berlet and Lyons: Groups look for conspiracies and then Groups look for conspiracies and then

scapegoat a group for the conspiracyscapegoat a group for the conspiracy Demonize scapegoats as primary cause Demonize scapegoats as primary cause

of injusticeof injustice Leaders inspire members to action and Leaders inspire members to action and

search to demonize more enemiessearch to demonize more enemies

Warrior DreamsWarrior Dreams

Warrior DreamsWarrior Dreams Warrior CultureWarrior Culture

Warriors = social outcasts whose lives Warriors = social outcasts whose lives center on violence; lone wolfcenter on violence; lone wolf

Identity crisis of extreme conservatives Identity crisis of extreme conservatives following Vietnam Warfollowing Vietnam War

Culture values guns and violent Culture values guns and violent confrontationsconfrontations

Paramilitary culture/lifestyle: war games, Paramilitary culture/lifestyle: war games, paramilitary religion, war films/books, paramilitary religion, war films/books, extremistsextremists

Warrior DreamsWarrior Dreams Targets of the warrior:Targets of the warrior:

Enemy lacks all standards of human Enemy lacks all standards of human decency whose goal is to destroy decency whose goal is to destroy American society and cultureAmerican society and culture

CommunistCommunist Dope dealerDope dealer MafiosoMafioso AcademicAcademic LiberalLiberal

Warrior DreamsWarrior Dreams Lone warriorLone warrior

SWAT, commando units reflect SWAT, commando units reflect organized military values, so warrior organized military values, so warrior rejects themrejects them

At war with status quoAt war with status quo Justifies actions of militias, New Order, Justifies actions of militias, New Order,

neo-Nazisneo-Nazis Provides formula for justifying terrorismProvides formula for justifying terrorism

Terrorist Profiles: Three ViewsTerrorist Profiles: Three Views

Terrorist Profiles: Three ViewsTerrorist Profiles: Three Views Hacker one of first criminal profilersHacker one of first criminal profilers Hacker’s three types of terrorists:Hacker’s three types of terrorists:

CriminalsCriminals Join terrorist groups for payoff or vengeanceJoin terrorist groups for payoff or vengeance

CraziesCrazies Join terrorist groups for thrills of lifestyleJoin terrorist groups for thrills of lifestyle

CrusadersCrusaders People who believe deeply in a causePeople who believe deeply in a cause

Terrorist Profiles: Three ViewsTerrorist Profiles: Three Views Laqueur’s Views of Terrorist Profiling:Laqueur’s Views of Terrorist Profiling:

No terrorist profile possible due to different No terrorist profile possible due to different types of terrorismtypes of terrorism

Terrorism fluctuates over timeTerrorism fluctuates over time Some group characteristics can be Some group characteristics can be

determined through type of terrorist determined through type of terrorist movementmovement

Impossible to profile terrorist personality Impossible to profile terrorist personality because terrorism is a political activity because terrorism is a political activity rather than a subject of criminologyrather than a subject of criminology

Terrorist Profiles: Three ViewsTerrorist Profiles: Three Views Ross’ alternative view: Ross’ alternative view:

Social/psychological processes rather Social/psychological processes rather than profilesthan profiles Joining the groupJoining the group Forming the activityForming the activity Remaining in the campaignRemaining in the campaign Leading the organizationLeading the organization Engaging in acts of terrorismEngaging in acts of terrorism