U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

CONTEMPORARY ITALIAN TERRORISM - ANALYSIS AND COUNTERMEASURES

NCJ Number
60876
Author(s)
V S PISANO
Date Published
1979
Length
191 pages
Annotation
ITALIAN TERRORIST ACTIVITIES THROUGH THE END OF 1978 ARE EXAMINED WITH EMPHASIS ON THE ROLE OF ITALIAN INTELLIGENCE BEFORE AND AFTER THE REFORM OF 1977.
Abstract
ITALY HAS EXPERIENCED TERRORISM IN EVERY FORM AND FROM DIVERGENT SOURCES, RANGING FROM ANARCHISTS TO SEPARATISTS. HOWEVER, IN THE 1970'S THE INTENSITY OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE HAS ESCALATED, AND THE OVERALL EFFICIENCY OF CERTAIN TERRORIST GROUPS HAS IMPROVED. IN 1978, THE MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR REPORTED THAT 147 VARIOUS TERRORIST GROUPS HAD CLAIMED GUILT FOR ACTS OF VIOLENCE IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THE RED BRIGADES WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GREATEST NUMBER OF INCIDENTS. ACCORDING TO A STUDY PREPARED BY THE ITALIAN COMMUNIST PARTY, THERE ARE IN ITALY 700 TO 800 TERRORISTS LIVING CLANDESTINELY, AND 10,000 OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE OFTEN ARMED AND WHO COMMIT VIOLENT CRIMES. TERRORISM IN ITALY IS OFTEN EXPLAINED AS THE PRODUCT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL ALIENATION RESULTING FROM RAPID TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS NOT ACCOMPANIED BY A SIMULTANEOUS DEVELOPMENT IN PARALLEL SOCIAL STRUCTURES AND ACCOMODATIONS. THIS MODEL IS EASILY APPLICABLE TO ITALY INSOFAR AS ITALY HAS QUICKLY PASSED FROM POSTWAR RECONSTRUCTION TO INDUSTRIALIZATION. AN ANALYSIS OF TERRORIST GROUPS INDICATES THREE BASIC PATTERNS: (1) RIGIDLY CLANDESTINE AND USING SYSTEMATIC ACTION; (2) PROPONENTS OF SIMULTANEOUS POLITICAL ACTION AND ARMED STRUGGLE, AND (3) SPONTANEOUS AND SPORADIC ACTION. BY COMPARISON TO ITS LEFTIST COUNTERPART, TERRORISM OF THE RIGHT IS NOT SEEN AS CONSTITUTING THE PRIMARY THREAT TO ITALIAN INSTITUTIONS. REFORM OF ITALIAN LAW HAS INCLUDED MORE STRINGENT SUPERVISION OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY SERVICES, THE SEPARATION OF THE INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY FUNCTIONS, AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING STATE SECRECY. DETAILED EXPLANATIONS OF THE NEW LAWS AND THE TERRORIST ACTIVITIES ARE INCLUDED WITH FOOTNOTES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY. (TWK)