chapter 2: the origins of modern terrorism

Chapter 2:Chapter 2:

The Origins of Modern TerrorismThe Origins of Modern Terrorism

Modern Democracies and the Birth Modern Democracies and the Birth of Terrorism in the Westof Terrorism in the West


First use of term terrorismFirst use of term terrorism The French RevolutionThe French Revolution

Middle class wrestled power from nobilityMiddle class wrestled power from nobility Extremely bloody power struggleExtremely bloody power struggle

Edmond Burke, British political Edmond Burke, British political philosopher, called the revolution “The philosopher, called the revolution “The Reign of Terror”Reign of Terror”

Terrorism = slaughter of French nobles, Terrorism = slaughter of French nobles, families, and sympathizersfamilies, and sympathizers


Radical European democrats of the Radical European democrats of the early 1800’s wanted to eliminate early 1800’s wanted to eliminate power of upper classespower of upper classes Worked for redistribution of wealth Worked for redistribution of wealth

(known as socialists)(known as socialists) Believed political power should be held Believed political power should be held

common, wealth belonged to everyone, common, wealth belonged to everyone, and all institutions should be democraticand all institutions should be democratic

Upper/middle classes often equated Upper/middle classes often equated terrorism and socialismterrorism and socialism

Terrorism and the AnarchistsTerrorism and the Anarchists

Terrorism and the AnarchistsTerrorism and the Anarchists How the terms How the terms SocialismSocialism and and Anarchy Anarchy

became relatedbecame related By the 1850’s, radical democrats divided By the 1850’s, radical democrats divided

into two factions: militant socialists and into two factions: militant socialists and more peaceful socialists. Both groups more peaceful socialists. Both groups referred to their movements as anarchism.referred to their movements as anarchism.

Term anarchy originated by Greek Term anarchy originated by Greek philosophers who spoke of eliminating philosophers who spoke of eliminating governmentsgovernments

Terrorism and the AnarchistsTerrorism and the Anarchists Proudhon vs. MarxProudhon vs. Marx

Proudhon:Proudhon: Called for extension of democracy to all classes Called for extension of democracy to all classes

through elimination of property and governmentthrough elimination of property and government Believed all government was evilBelieved all government was evil Believed in non-violent anarchyBelieved in non-violent anarchy

Marx: Marx: Saw centralized government as necessary evilSaw centralized government as necessary evil Government needed to protect individual rights Government needed to protect individual rights

of citizensof citizens

Terrorism and the AnarchistsTerrorism and the Anarchists Major leaders of Anarchist movementMajor leaders of Anarchist movement

Mikhail Bakunin: Russian revolutionary who Mikhail Bakunin: Russian revolutionary who fought against the tsar; joined by Sergey fought against the tsar; joined by Sergey NechaevNechaev

Nikolai Morozov: Primary spokesperson for Nikolai Morozov: Primary spokesperson for People’s WillPeople’s Will

Karl Heinzen: Radical German democratic who Karl Heinzen: Radical German democratic who advocated political murderadvocated political murder

Johann Most: Believed that violent action was Johann Most: Believed that violent action was best form of propaganda; advocated best form of propaganda; advocated “philosophy of the bomb” “philosophy of the bomb”

Terrorism and the Russian Terrorism and the Russian RevolutionRevolution


Late nineteenth-century RussiaLate nineteenth-century Russia Peasants extremely poorPeasants extremely poor Russia’s economic and governmental Russia’s economic and governmental

systems were insufficient to handle systems were insufficient to handle changes brought by industrychanges brought by industry

When Tsar Alexander attempted When Tsar Alexander attempted changes in the system, revolutionary changes in the system, revolutionary terrorism was the resultterrorism was the result


The People’s WillThe People’s Will Motivated by anarchist revolutionary theory of Motivated by anarchist revolutionary theory of

Bakunin and NechaevBakunin and Nechaev Launched in 1870’s, sought to terrorize Launched in 1870’s, sought to terrorize

government, Orthodox church, police, and military government, Orthodox church, police, and military into submissioninto submission

Campaign of bombing and murder resulted in Campaign of bombing and murder resulted in killing of Tsar Alexander II in May 1881killing of Tsar Alexander II in May 1881

Alexander III launched period of national Alexander III launched period of national repression; leaders of People’s Will killed or repression; leaders of People’s Will killed or arrested; remaining members went undergroundarrested; remaining members went underground

People’s Will resurfaced in 1905 revolution but People’s Will resurfaced in 1905 revolution but failed to topple Tsar Nicholas II.failed to topple Tsar Nicholas II.


1905 revolution of lower classes1905 revolution of lower classes Russia plagued by economic problems Russia plagued by economic problems

and bureaucratic inefficiency after losing and bureaucratic inefficiency after losing war to Japanwar to Japan

Demonstrations by unemployed workers Demonstrations by unemployed workers and mutiny by men enlisted in Russian and mutiny by men enlisted in Russian NavyNavy

Actions brutally repressed but spirit of Actions brutally repressed but spirit of revolution simmeredrevolution simmered


The Revolution of 1917The Revolution of 1917 Russians tired of tsar and economic woes; a strike in St. Russians tired of tsar and economic woes; a strike in St.

Petersburg became first of two revolutions in 1917Petersburg became first of two revolutions in 1917 Russian Army joined workers in revolution and new Russian Army joined workers in revolution and new

government was formed; these revolutionaries called government was formed; these revolutionaries called MensheviksMensheviks

Russians promised allies to remain in warRussians promised allies to remain in war Created unrest at homeCreated unrest at home Inspired Germans to attempt to remove Russia from WW IInspired Germans to attempt to remove Russia from WW I

Germans found help from LeninGermans found help from Lenin Lenin gained control of Lenin gained control of BolsheviksBolsheviks (Communist revolutionaries (Communist revolutionaries

who opposed Mensheviks)who opposed Mensheviks) Orchestrated second revolution in October 1917, which Orchestrated second revolution in October 1917, which

removed Russia from WW Iremoved Russia from WW I October revolutionaries used terrorist violence to gain October revolutionaries used terrorist violence to gain

power and repressive terrorism to maintain powerpower and repressive terrorism to maintain power

Nationalistic RevolutionariesNationalistic Revolutionaries

Nationalistic RevolutionariesNationalistic Revolutionaries 1800s witnessed growth of 1800s witnessed growth of

anarchism and nationalismanarchism and nationalism Goals of nationalist organizations:Goals of nationalist organizations:

Use terrorism to wrestle control of Use terrorism to wrestle control of government from other nationalities or government from other nationalities or ethnic groupsethnic groups

Nationalists fought to govern, as Nationalists fought to govern, as opposed to anarchists who fought to opposed to anarchists who fought to impose ideology on governmentimpose ideology on government

Nationalistic RevolutionariesNationalistic Revolutionaries Comparison of nationalistic terrorism Comparison of nationalistic terrorism

and anarchismand anarchism Both have similar stages of Both have similar stages of

development: learn terrorist tactics and development: learn terrorist tactics and then use themthen use them

Both groups use similar justifications for Both groups use similar justifications for violence, claiming moral necessity for violence, claiming moral necessity for their group to govern societytheir group to govern society

Nationalistic RevolutionariesNationalistic Revolutionaries Bell links anarchy and nationalistic Bell links anarchy and nationalistic

traditions using IRA (Irish Republican traditions using IRA (Irish Republican Army) as exampleArmy) as example Since 1916, IRA inundated with socialist Since 1916, IRA inundated with socialist

revolutionaries and nationalists who revolutionaries and nationalists who reject some aspects of socialismreject some aspects of socialism

Bell believes Ireland is best example of Bell believes Ireland is best example of nationalistic terrorism and anarchism as nationalistic terrorism and anarchism as framework of modern European terrorismframework of modern European terrorism

Nationalistic RevolutionariesNationalistic Revolutionaries Clutterbuck vs. BellClutterbuck vs. Bell

Clutterbuck argues that link between Clutterbuck argues that link between anarchy and nationalistic terror is not so anarchy and nationalistic terror is not so clearclear

Believes nationalistic terrorism in Ireland Believes nationalistic terrorism in Ireland extremely important because its innovations extremely important because its innovations ushered in practice of modern terrorismushered in practice of modern terrorism

Terrorism did not develop as logical step from Terrorism did not develop as logical step from anarchist violence to modern terrorist practiceanarchist violence to modern terrorist practice

Ireland set the stage for modern international Ireland set the stage for modern international terrorist operationsterrorist operations

Irish History and the Growth of Irish History and the Growth of Modern TerrorismModern Terrorism


Why was Ireland ripe for terrorism Why was Ireland ripe for terrorism when IRA was created?when IRA was created? Centuries of religious strife since A.D. 800Centuries of religious strife since A.D. 800 History of violence through every History of violence through every

generationgeneration After American Civil War, Irish soldiers who After American Civil War, Irish soldiers who

fought for the North joined with other Irish fought for the North joined with other Irish people to create republic of Ireland free people to create republic of Ireland free from British control. In 1916, this Irish from British control. In 1916, this Irish Republican Army tried to take control of Republican Army tried to take control of Dublin but were defeated by the BritishDublin but were defeated by the British


Modern terrorism came to Ireland in 1919Modern terrorism came to Ireland in 1919 Michael Collins took command of IRA and waged Michael Collins took command of IRA and waged

fierce campaign against Britishfierce campaign against British Collins studied tactics of Russian revolutionaries, Collins studied tactics of Russian revolutionaries,

and his followers used bombs, murder, ambushes, and his followers used bombs, murder, ambushes, and other terrorist tactics to fight Protestant police and other terrorist tactics to fight Protestant police force and British army. Ireland gained force and British army. Ireland gained independence in 1921 but British held the north of independence in 1921 but British held the north of IrelandIreland

Collins was killed in 1922 by former revolutionaries Collins was killed in 1922 by former revolutionaries opposing peace with the British. After his death, opposing peace with the British. After his death, IRA outlawed by Republic of Ireland.IRA outlawed by Republic of Ireland.


Role of British army in rebirth of IRARole of British army in rebirth of IRA As violence grew in Northern Ireland As violence grew in Northern Ireland

after failed Catholic civil rights after failed Catholic civil rights movement, British sent army to stop movement, British sent army to stop riotingrioting

Young soldiers sided with loyalists Young soldiers sided with loyalists against Republicans and brutally against Republicans and brutally repressed Catholicsrepressed Catholics


IRA TacticsIRA Tactics From 1970-1990, bombing was primary From 1970-1990, bombing was primary

tactictactic MurderMurder KidnappingKidnapping Killing adversaries at established roadblocksKilling adversaries at established roadblocks Assassination of government officials, Assassination of government officials,

enemy terrorists, Catholics advocating enemy terrorists, Catholics advocating compromise, police officers, and soldierscompromise, police officers, and soldiers

The Influence of Past ExperienceThe Influence of Past Experience


Dyson’s conclusions about terrorist Dyson’s conclusions about terrorist behaviorbehavior Unlike criminals, terrorists study the Unlike criminals, terrorists study the

history of past campaigns and the history of past campaigns and the theory that motivated themtheory that motivated them

Counterterrorism starts with Counterterrorism starts with understanding the roots of terrorismunderstanding the roots of terrorism


Issues shaping modern terrorism:Issues shaping modern terrorism: The ideology of modern terrorism emerged The ideology of modern terrorism emerged

from 19from 19thth century revolutionary thought century revolutionary thought Such thought spawned revolutions in Such thought spawned revolutions in

Russia, and influenced Michael Collins to Russia, and influenced Michael Collins to apply the same tactics to Ireland’s apply the same tactics to Ireland’s nationalistic revolutionnationalistic revolution

Terrorists in the 20Terrorists in the 20thth century studied century studied Michael Collins and improvised from IRA Michael Collins and improvised from IRA tacticstactics


Current terrorist networks:Current terrorist networks: Today, terrorism is dominated by Today, terrorism is dominated by

religion, ideologies serving as surrogate religion, ideologies serving as surrogate religions, and racial/ethnic divisionsreligions, and racial/ethnic divisions

Roots of self-proclaimed ‘religious Roots of self-proclaimed ‘religious terrorists’ are in traditions of Lenin and terrorists’ are in traditions of Lenin and CollinsCollins

chapter 2: the origins of modern terrorism

Documents

russian revolutionary

revolutionary terrorism

birth of terrorism

russian revolutionlate

russian navyactions

russian army

russian revolutionterrorism

equated terrorism