Title: Chapter One: The Criminology and Controversy of Terrorism
1Chapter OneThe Criminology and
Controversy of Terrorism
2Why Definitions are Important
3Why Definitions are Important
- Why do people argue about the meaning of
terrorism? - Meaning changes
- It is a concept
- Means different things at different times
4Why Definitions are Important
- Pejorative Connotation of Terrorism
- Political and social degradation when labeled a
terrorist - Routine crimes assume greater importance when
described as terrorism - Political movement can be hampered when followers
believed to be terrorists
5Why Definitions are Important
- Definitions of Terrorism from Various Interest
Groups - Law Enforcement
- Governments
- Advocating for redistribution of wealth
- Pro-life/Pro-choice
6Definitions of Terrorism
7Definitions of Terrorism
- Jenkins Threat or use of force for political
change - Laqueur Use of force to achieve political
objective targets innocent people - Crenshaw Cannot be defined without analysis of
act, target, and possibility of success
8Definitions of Terrorism
- Herman Defined in terms of state repression
- Schmid Meaning is derived from targets and
victims of terrorists - Barnett Terrorists do not have vested interest
in maintaining political/economic structures
because they do not benefit from them
9The Meaning of the War on Terrorism
10The Meaning of the War on Terrorism
- Arguments accepting the war with terrorism
- Friedman
- Blank
- Cohen
- Hill
11The Meaning of the War on Terrorism
- Argument that does not accept the war on
terrorism - Howardterrorism is an emergency situation best
handled by intelligence and law enforcement
services
12The Tactics of Terrorism
13The Tactics of Terrorism
- Jenkins six tactics of terrorism
- Bombing (most common)
- Hijacking
- Arson
- Assault
- Kidnapping
- Hostage Taking
- Weapons of mass destruction?
14Tactics of Terrorism
- Four Force Multipliers
- Technology
- Transnational support networks
- Media coverage
- Religious fanaticism
15How Terrorists Groups Justify Behavior
16How Terrorist Groups Justify Behavior
- Justification for violence
- Consumed with the cause
- Reasons potential terrorists join groups
- Sympathy for the cause
- Social misfits
17How Terrorist Groups Justify Behavior
- Posts Motivational Theories
- No single terrorist personality
- Social outcasts who fall in with like-minded
individuals - Us against them mentality
- Antisocial behavior rewarded and reinforced
within this group - Rejection of external authority acceptance of
internal authority
18How Terrorists Groups Justify Behavior
- Sterns View on Group Cohesion
- Us against them mentality against common enemy
- Group must have a story/mythology to inspire and
guide members - Group needs own language or symbolic words to
demonize enemy
19How Terrorist Groups Justify Behavior
- Berlet and Lyons
- Groups look for conspiracies and then scapegoat a
group for the conspiracy - Demonize scapegoats as primary cause of injustice
- Leaders inspire members to action and search to
demonize more enemies
20Warrior Dreams
21Warrior Dreams
- Warrior Culture
- Warriors social outcasts whose lives center on
violence lone wolf - Identity crisis of extreme conservatives
following Vietnam War - Culture values guns and violent confrontations
- Paramilitary culture/lifestyle war games,
paramilitary religion, war films/books,
extremists
22Warrior Dreams
- Targets of the warrior
- Enemy lacks all standards of human decency whose
goal is to destroy American society and culture - Communist
- Dope dealer
- Mafioso
- Academic
- Liberal
23Warrior Dreams
- Lone warrior
- SWAT, commando units reflect organized military
values, so warrior rejects them - At war with status quo
- Justifies actions of militias, New Order,
neo-Nazis - Provides formula for justifying terrorism
24Terrorist Profiles Three Views
25Terrorist Profiles Three Views
- Hacker one of first criminal profilers
- Hackers three types of terrorists
- Criminals
- Join terrorist groups for payoff or vengeance
- Crazies
- Join terrorist groups for thrills of lifestyle
- Crusaders
- People who believe deeply in a cause
26Terrorist Profiles Three Views
- Laqueurs Views of Terrorist Profiling
- No terrorist profile possible due to different
types of terrorism - Terrorism fluctuates over time
- Some group characteristics can be determined
through type of terrorist movement - Impossible to profile terrorist personality
because terrorism is a political activity rather
than a subject of criminology
27Terrorist Profiles Three Views
- Ross alternative view Social/psychological
processes rather than profiles - Joining the group
- Forming the activity
- Remaining in the campaign
- Leading the organization
- Engaging in acts of terrorism