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Terrorism as a Form of Warfare Methodology It is the argument of th

It is the argument of this study that terrorism may be regarded as a form of warfare. Even setting aside that argument as not proven, it is clear that terrorism, like war, is a form of politically-motivated violence. It is therefore appropriate to apply to the study of terrorism those elements of the methodology of the study of war that are appropriate to the circumstances. In our case, we are interested in the strategy of terrorism--specifically, its use as a means of conveying forceful political messages--rather than in the tactics of terrorism (e.g., the art of hijacking an airliner or planting a bomb. We are likewise interested primarily in the motivations and purposes of the leaders of terrorist movements rather than those of the "foot soldiers" of terrorism.

The tendency of military historians to concentrate upon the thoughts and actions of generals rather than of their troops has been criticized, notably by John Keegan in The Face of Battle (1976, p. 63-68). He argues forcefully that what he calls the "battle-piece" tradition of military historical writing has suffered from failure to consider the experience of battle of ordinary soldiers, and the ways in which they responded to it. Certainly the experience of terrorism from the perspective of the actual executors of terrorist actions is an important feature in shaping the nature (including the ideology) of terrorism. The suicide truck-bomber, we may assume, can only be motivated to perform his mission through convictions so strong that they override the ordinary instinct of self-preservation. The truck-bomber is unlikely to perform for the sake of some marginal political advantage sought by the his superiors in an organization or cell; whatever goals they may consider in their own conferences, the goals they communicate to him must be primal in character. The internal dynamics of a terrorist movement thus constitute an element of communication through terrorism.

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Terrorism as a Form of Warfare Methodology It is the argument of th. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 05:00, March 29, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1704033.html