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HOW EFFECTIVE IS TERRORISM?

NCJ Number
54883
Journal
EUROPA-ARCHIV Volume: 12 Dated: (1978) Pages: 343-358
Author(s)
F R VONALLEMANN
Date Published
1978
Length
15 pages
Annotation
THE SUCCESSES AND FAILURES OF TERRORIST ATTEMPTS ARE EXAMINED TO DISCOVER WHETHER OR NOT SUCH POLITICAL VIOLENCE HAS BEEN OR IS EFFECTIVE.
Abstract
MOST OF THOSE CONCERNED WITH THE PROBLEMS OF TERRORISM POINT OUT THAT, AT MOST, TERRORISM CAN ACHIEVE ONLY A FEW TACTICAL AND PERHAPS SENSATIONAL SUCCESSES, BUT THAT IT HAS NEVER ATTAINED A REVOLUTIONARY BREAKTHROUGH ANYWHERE. URBAN GUERRILLAS IN URUGUAY AND BRAZIL ACHIEVED PARTIAL SUCCESSES IN 1969-70, BUT BY 1972 THEIR MISJUDGMENTS HASTENED THEIR DEFEAT BY GOVERNMENT FORCES. WHILE AN ACTIVIST VANGUARD UTILIZING CRIMINAL EXPENDIENTS CAN, IN FACT, HARASS A GOVERNMENT FOR A TIME, IT CANNOT COPE WITH SUCH AN OPPONENT IN THE LONG RUN, BECAUSE THE SECRETIVE NATURE OF ITS ORGANIZATION INEVITABLY CAUSES ISOLATION FROM THE POPULATION. ON THE OTHER HAND, IF THE VANGUARD RELINQUISHES SECRECY, IT RISKS GREATER VULNERABILITY. HOWEVER, THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF TERRORIST ACTS MAY EVENTUALLY RESULT IN ORIGINALLY SOUGHT-FOR GOALS, SUCH AS THE TERRORIST-INSPIRED COLLAPSE OF DEMOCRACY IN URUGUAY AND THE REIGN OF TERROR AND REVOLUTION IN ARGENTINA. MOST OF THE NATIONALIST TERRORIST ACTIVITIES OVERSEAS (SUCH AS THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY OR THE PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANIZATION) DIFFER FROM THOSE OF THE LATIN AMERICAN SOCIAL REVOLUTIONARIES IN THEIR GREATER STRUGGLE FOR NATIONAL AUTONOMY AND THEIR LARGER CIRCLE OF SYMPATHIZERS AND ACTIVE SUPPORTERS, ESPECIALLY WHERE THE POPULATION THEY CLAIM TO REPRESENT IS IN FACT VICTIMIZED DAILY BY TANGIBLE AND HUMILIATING INJUSTICES. ALTHOUGH THE TERRORIST OFFENSIVE HAS ACHIEVED MERELY TEMPORARY AND PURELY TACTICAL SUCCESSES IN WESTERN EUROPEAN DEMOCRACIES, NONE OF THESE COUNTRIES HAS SUCCEEDED IN ELIMINATING TERRORISM PERMANENTLY. IT IS CLEAR THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TERRORISM CANNOT YET BE MADE. SEVERAL REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. --IN GERMAN. (MHP)