Chapter 3: Changing Group Chapter 3: Changing Group Structures and the Metamorphosis Structures and the Metamorphosis
of Terrorismof Terrorism
Trying to Walk the WalkTrying to Walk the Walk
Trying to Walk the WalkTrying to Walk the Walk
The New World Liberation Front The New World Liberation Front (NWLF)(NWLF) Formed in San Francisco (1970)Formed in San Francisco (1970) Responsible for 30 bombings over next Responsible for 30 bombings over next
seven yearsseven years Claimed to be a “moral” revolutionary Claimed to be a “moral” revolutionary
group, attacking only “legitimate” targets group, attacking only “legitimate” targets such as utility companiessuch as utility companies
Considered themselves at war with the Considered themselves at war with the establishmentestablishment
Trying to Walk the WalkTrying to Walk the Walk
NWLF’s attempts to expandNWLF’s attempts to expand Few new recruits willing to join so they Few new recruits willing to join so they
‘expanded’ by forming a number of ‘expanded’ by forming a number of brigadesbrigades
In a final ploy to gain support, NWLF joined In a final ploy to gain support, NWLF joined up with prison reform movement and allied up with prison reform movement and allied with Tribal Thumbwith Tribal Thumb
This alliance cemented their failure due to This alliance cemented their failure due to association with violent felons; lost all association with violent felons; lost all public supportpublic support
Tribal Thumb was a group of militant ex-convictsTribal Thumb was a group of militant ex-convicts
Trying to Walk the WalkTrying to Walk the Walk
Why many modern terrorist groups Why many modern terrorist groups fail:fail: In order to have effect, terrorist groups In order to have effect, terrorist groups
have to be largehave to be large To become large, group needs To become large, group needs
popular/political appealpopular/political appeal Need a cause that is acceptable to a large Need a cause that is acceptable to a large
segment of the publicsegment of the public Most terrorist groups do not have this Most terrorist groups do not have this
appeal and thus failappeal and thus fail
Group Size and Campaign LengthGroup Size and Campaign Length
Group Size and Campaign LengthGroup Size and Campaign Length
Ted Robert Gurr’s analysis of terrorist Ted Robert Gurr’s analysis of terrorist groupsgroups Most terrorist actions involve only a few Most terrorist actions involve only a few
people who generate more noise than people who generate more noise than injuryinjury
The majority of successful groups The majority of successful groups embrace doctrines such as nationalism or embrace doctrines such as nationalism or religion religion
Large terrorist groups are more Large terrorist groups are more successful than small groupssuccessful than small groups
Group Size and Campaign LengthGroup Size and Campaign Length
Length of Terrorist Campaigns:Length of Terrorist Campaigns: Most terrorist campaigns end within 18 Most terrorist campaigns end within 18
months of the initial outburst of violencemonths of the initial outburst of violence Terrorism is short-lived because it Terrorism is short-lived because it
seldom generates supportseldom generates support
Group Size and Campaign LengthGroup Size and Campaign Length
Implications of Gurr’s AnalysisImplications of Gurr’s Analysis Conclusions imply that most terrorist Conclusions imply that most terrorist
organizations are small, short-lived organizations are small, short-lived operationsoperations
IF terrorism is the result of a popular IF terrorism is the result of a popular social issue, the power of the group is social issue, the power of the group is enhancedenhanced
Strong support for a group is more Strong support for a group is more important than the actual number of important than the actual number of operativesoperatives
Group Size is ImportantGroup Size is Important
Group Size is ImportantGroup Size is Important
Italian Terrorist GroupsItalian Terrorist Groups Between 1975 and 1985, there was a Between 1975 and 1985, there was a
large number of terrorist actions in Italylarge number of terrorist actions in Italy Only large groups involved in sustained Only large groups involved in sustained
actions/terrorist campaignsactions/terrorist campaigns Everything else was ‘single incident’ Everything else was ‘single incident’
terrorismterrorism
Group Size is ImportantGroup Size is Important
HezbollahHezbollah Serves as example of large successful Serves as example of large successful
groupgroup Began as political groupBegan as political group In 1982, moved to Bekaa Valley in In 1982, moved to Bekaa Valley in
LebanonLebanon Hezbollah is large enough to maintain a Hezbollah is large enough to maintain a
campaign, and religion provides campaign, and religion provides common base among its memberscommon base among its members
Group Size is ImportantGroup Size is Important
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elaam Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elaam (LTTE)(LTTE) LTTE is bound by nationalism and ethnic LTTE is bound by nationalism and ethnic
identityidentity LTTE began fighting Sri Lankan LTTE began fighting Sri Lankan
government in 1976government in 1976 Claimed to represent Tamil minorityClaimed to represent Tamil minority May have up to 10,000 membersMay have up to 10,000 members
Group Size is ImportantGroup Size is Important
Terrorist Campaigns After WW IITerrorist Campaigns After WW II Campaigns of large terrorist Campaigns of large terrorist
organizations accounted for majority of organizations accounted for majority of world terrorismworld terrorism
Large terrorist organizations have Large terrorist organizations have prompted governments to employ prompted governments to employ macropoliciesmacropolicies
Large groups represent political threatsLarge groups represent political threats
Group Size is ImportantGroup Size is Important
Values Vs. Large Base of SupportValues Vs. Large Base of Support Most terrorists try to hide their most Most terrorists try to hide their most
radical positions and sensationalistic radical positions and sensationalistic violence to appeal to a broader baseviolence to appeal to a broader base
Creating Terrorist OrganizationsCreating Terrorist Organizations
Creating Terrorist Organizations Creating Terrorist Organizations
Pyramid Organization:Pyramid Organization: Support is most common job in terrorist Support is most common job in terrorist
groupsgroups Fraser and Fulton’s hierarchy of terrorist Fraser and Fulton’s hierarchy of terrorist
group:group: Smallest group at the top is responsible for Smallest group at the top is responsible for
commandcommand Second level is active cadre—people who carry Second level is active cadre—people who carry
out organization’s missionout organization’s mission Third level is most important: active supportersThird level is most important: active supporters Fourth level is passive supporters; largest groupFourth level is passive supporters; largest group
Creating Terrorist OrganizationsCreating Terrorist Organizations
Anthony Burton’s Structure of Subunits:Anthony Burton’s Structure of Subunits: Terrorist organizations have two primary types Terrorist organizations have two primary types
of subunits:of subunits: CellCell ColumnColumn
The most basic unit is the cell. Composed of 4-The most basic unit is the cell. Composed of 4-6 people and specialized as tactical or 6 people and specialized as tactical or intelligence sectionintelligence section
Groups of cells create columns, which are Groups of cells create columns, which are semiautonomous groups with a variety of semiautonomous groups with a variety of specialties and a single command structurespecialties and a single command structure
New Models for a New DayNew Models for a New Day
New Models for a New DayNew Models for a New Day
Umbrella OrganizationUmbrella Organization Several smaller pyramids gather under Several smaller pyramids gather under
sheltering group that sheltering group that Manages suppliesManages supplies Obtains resourcesObtains resources Creates support structuresCreates support structures Gathers intelligenceGathers intelligence
Sheltering umbrella disassociated from Sheltering umbrella disassociated from violence, casting a blind eye when violence, casting a blind eye when semiautonomous pyramid groups take semiautonomous pyramid groups take actionaction
New Models for a New DayNew Models for a New Day
Organizations that emerged in the Organizations that emerged in the 1990s:1990s: Virtual organizations were created through Virtual organizations were created through
computer and information networkscomputer and information networks Chain organizations linked separate groups Chain organizations linked separate groups
with similar philosophies or religions with similar philosophies or religions without creating hierarchywithout creating hierarchy
Centralized hubs developed to manage or Centralized hubs developed to manage or support individual cellssupport individual cells
““Leaderless resistance”—groups or Leaderless resistance”—groups or individuals operating on their ownindividuals operating on their own
New Models for a New DayNew Models for a New Day
New Organizational Styles:New Organizational Styles: As organizations change, network As organizations change, network
provides strengthprovides strength Network is supported by larger Network is supported by larger
nonviolent followingnonviolent following Motivated by nationalistic, ethnic, or Motivated by nationalistic, ethnic, or
religions concernsreligions concerns Role of force multipliers dominates Role of force multipliers dominates
terrorismterrorism
The Problems of Managing The Problems of Managing OrganizationsOrganizations
The Problems of Managing The Problems of Managing OrganizationsOrganizations
Special organizational problems:Special organizational problems: SecrecySecrecy DecentralizationDecentralization TrainingTraining Internal DisciplineInternal Discipline Gaining immediate tactical support for Gaining immediate tactical support for
operationsoperations
The Problems of Managing The Problems of Managing OrganizationsOrganizations
Bodansky’s types of activities Bodansky’s types of activities accompanying terrorist campaigns:accompanying terrorist campaigns: Intelligence—includes everything from Intelligence—includes everything from
selection/observation of targets to selection/observation of targets to forging of documentation/travel papersforging of documentation/travel papers
Direct logistical network—established to Direct logistical network—established to supply terrorists with weaponssupply terrorists with weapons
Support network—for safe houses, Support network—for safe houses, transportation, food sources, and transportation, food sources, and medical suppliesmedical supplies
The Problems of Managing The Problems of Managing OrganizationsOrganizations
Terrorist attacks require political Terrorist attacks require political support, planning, organization, and support, planning, organization, and resourcesresources
The Individual: The Ultimate Small The Individual: The Ultimate Small GroupGroup
The Individual: The Ultimate Small The Individual: The Ultimate Small GroupGroup
Technology and the individual:Technology and the individual: A technological structure can be A technological structure can be
changed into a weapon if attackedchanged into a weapon if attacked Examples: power grid, fuel distribution Examples: power grid, fuel distribution
system, computer networksystem, computer network For the first time in history, a single For the first time in history, a single
individual can become a lone force of individual can become a lone force of significant destructionsignificant destruction
The Individual: The Ultimate Small The Individual: The Ultimate Small GroupGroup
Jessica Stern and the disturbing trend Jessica Stern and the disturbing trend in terrorism:in terrorism: Terrorists motivated by religion are Terrorists motivated by religion are
gathering into loose groups with no gathering into loose groups with no leaderleader
Many groups are virtual organizations Many groups are virtual organizations held together by ideology and held together by ideology and informationinformation
The Individual: The Ultimate Small The Individual: The Ultimate Small GroupGroup
Louis BeamLouis Beam A right-wing extremist leader involved A right-wing extremist leader involved
with Ku Klux Klan and Aryan Nationswith Ku Klux Klan and Aryan Nations Believed that a group could not evade Believed that a group could not evade
law enforcement, so he called for law enforcement, so he called for elimination of organizationselimination of organizations
The Individual: The Ultimate Small The Individual: The Ultimate Small GroupGroup
““Leaderless Resistance”Leaderless Resistance” Extremist groups do not need extensive Extremist groups do not need extensive
organizationsorganizations Only necessary to take actionOnly necessary to take action
Examples:Examples: Green Party extremists in GermanyGreen Party extremists in Germany Animal Liberation FrontAnimal Liberation Front Timothy McVeighTimothy McVeigh
The Individual: The Ultimate Small The Individual: The Ultimate Small GroupGroup
Lone WolfLone Wolf In the right-wing fantasy novel Hunter, In the right-wing fantasy novel Hunter,
protagonist (individual) serves as protagonist (individual) serves as example of how an individual extremist example of how an individual extremist can murder people of color and Jews in can murder people of color and Jews in the name of White supremacythe name of White supremacy
Eric Rudolph—charged in connection Eric Rudolph—charged in connection with 4 bombings ranging from 1996 with 4 bombings ranging from 1996 Atlanta Olympics to 1998 abortion clinic Atlanta Olympics to 1998 abortion clinic bombingbombing
The Individual: The Ultimate Small The Individual: The Ultimate Small GroupGroup
BerserkerBerserker White defines berserkers as crazed, White defines berserkers as crazed,
frightened true believersfrightened true believers Can leave a trail of cluesCan leave a trail of clues