Chapter One:
The Criminology and Controversy
of Terrorism
Why Definitions are Important
Why Definitions are Important
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Why do people argue about the meaning
of terrorism?
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Meaning changes
It is a concept
Means different things at different times
Why Definitions are Important
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Pejorative Connotation of Terrorism
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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
Why Definitions are Important
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Definitions of Terrorism from Various
Interest Groups
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Law Enforcement
Governments
Advocating for redistribution of wealth
Pro-life/Pro-choice
Definitions of Terrorism
Definitions of Terrorism
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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
Definitions of Terrorism
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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
The Meaning of the War on
Terrorism
The Meaning of the War on
Terrorism
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Arguments accepting the war with
terrorism:
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Friedman
Blank
Cohen
Hill
The Meaning of the War on
Terrorism
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Argument that does not accept the war on
terrorism:
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Howard—terrorism is an emergency situation
best handled by intelligence and law
enforcement services
The Tactics of Terrorism
The Tactics of Terrorism
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Jenkins’ six tactics of terrorism:
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Bombing (most common)
Hijacking
Arson
Assault
Kidnapping
Hostage Taking
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Weapons of mass destruction?
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Tactics of Terrorism
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Four Force Multipliers:
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Technology
Transnational support networks
Media coverage
Religious fanaticism
How Terrorists Groups Justify
Behavior
How Terrorist Groups Justify
Behavior
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Justification for violence
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Consumed with the cause
Reasons potential terrorists join groups:
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Sympathy for the cause
Social misfits
How Terrorist Groups Justify
Behavior
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Post’s Motivational Theories
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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
How Terrorists Groups Justify
Behavior
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Stern’s View on Group Cohesion:
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“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
How Terrorist Groups Justify
Behavior
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Berlet and Lyons:
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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
Warrior Dreams
Warrior Dreams
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Warrior Culture
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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
Warrior Dreams
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Targets of the warrior:
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Enemy lacks all standards of human decency
whose goal is to destroy American society and
culture
Communist
 Dope dealer
 Mafioso
 Academic
 Liberal
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Warrior Dreams
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Lone warrior
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SWAT, commando units reflect organized
military values, so warrior rejects them
At war with status quo
Justifies actions of militias, New Order, neoNazis
Provides formula for justifying terrorism
Terrorist Profiles: Three Views
Terrorist Profiles: Three Views
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Hacker one of first criminal profilers
Hacker’s three types of terrorists:
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Criminals
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Crazies
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Join terrorist groups for payoff or vengeance
Join terrorist groups for thrills of lifestyle
Crusaders
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People who believe deeply in a cause
Terrorist Profiles: Three Views
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Laqueur’s Views of Terrorist Profiling:
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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
Terrorist Profiles: Three Views
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Ross’ alternative view:
Social/psychological processes rather than
profiles
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Joining the group
Forming the activity
Remaining in the campaign
Leading the organization
Engaging in acts of terrorism