WHAT IS TERRORISM?

Published: The Economist,  http://fringe.davesource.com/Fringe/Politics/Economist_Essay

Level of Difficulty: **

WATCH, LISTEN AND CONSIDER

·         What is terrorism? Definition, types, history and statistics

http://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-terrorism-definition-history-types-statistics.html
What is terrorism? Definition, types and examples http://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-terrorism-definition-history-types-examples.html

QUESTIONS

1.       In the introduction to the article, we are presented with a dilemma concerning terrorism. What is it?

2.       What conclusion can we draw from the examples stated in paragraph 3?

3.       What are the two main characteristics of terrorism?

4.       Of the examples stated in paragraph 5, which one is real terrorism?

5.       Can one always differentiate clearly between terrorism and guerrilla warfare? What is the problem?

6.       What would you call the following examples: The IRA bombing of a pub near London (70’s); the bombing of a bus containing, among others, soldiers returning from the front; Aum Shirinyo’s nerve gas bombing of the Tokyo underground; IRA bombing of the British barracks near Londonderry.

7.       The case of the men who shot up a white church congregation in South Africa is an example of………………………………………………………………………………………………………..(Be very specific)

8.       The Tamil Tiger bombing in Colombo and Dier Yassin are given as examples to prove that………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

9.       Give one example of diplomacy by terror.

10.   State one example of governments which are guilty of terrorism.

11.   The cases of Hiroshima, Nagazaki and the Allied bombing of Germany near the end of the war are given as examples proving that……………………………………………………………………………..

12.   The basic difference between the 19^th century anarchist and nihilist and the present day terrorist is that the former ………………………………………………………………………………………………..

13.   The activities of The IRA, ETA and The Shining Path may be contrasted with such events as the Tokyo metro nerve gassing, the Oklahoma city bombing and the activities of Algerian terrorists. The Three latter events are different in that ………………………………………………………..

14.   Read paragraphs 18 through 20 and find three similarities and one difference between a terrorist group and a government( i.e. an army)

15.   State two reasons why the British withdrew from India, Cyprus and Kenya.

16.   On reading paragraph 25, how would you rate a government’s chances of success in dealing with terrorists? What do you base your opinion on?

17.   What do the Baeder- Meinhof mob and Aum Shirinyo have in common?

WHAT IS TERRORISM / KEY

The text is a brilliant descriptive essay endeavoring to describe what terrorism is and isn’t. I, unfortunately, have no way of getting the soft copy to you so you are going to have to find it in the economist archive. This you can do by paying a nominal fee or enlisting the help of members of staff who are already members. Getting back to the task at hand, you should start with a discussion during which certain criteria will emerge. These criteria could be noted on the board for comparison with the views expressed in the text and further discussion. The vocabulary should be exploited while reading – something I like to do while reading through the text. Due to the way it is written, this text will never be outdated. It can be used with intermediate groups at the beginning of December which should give you some idea of its level of difficulty. It is important that you discuss the arguments in the text as you read as not everyone will agree with all of them and it is important that they learn to have civilized discussions and listen to each other. A writing task is not recommended at this stage of the year as the topic is too hard.

1.       Terrorism is not the simple, sharp edged bad guy phenomenon we all love to condemn.

2.       What act or person earns the label depends on who wants to apply it.

3.       Terrorism is indeed about terror; not just violence but its use to spread terror. And the violence is aimed specifically at civilians.

4.       Italy’s Red Brigade blew up a train in Bologna station killing 84 people.

5.       There are grey areas

6.       Terrorism, grey area, terrorism, guerrilla warfare.

7.       A terrorist act with a “good cause”.

8.       The terrorists’ ultimate success or failure doesn’t alter the truth.

9.       Iran, Libya, Carlos the Jackal, East Germany…

10.   Much of Latin America

11.   Armies of proud democracies can be guilty of terrorism too.

12.   Discriminate assassination was the typical weapon of the 19^th century anarchist and nihilist.

13.   Random terrorism

14.   Difference: the group is almost impossible to smash; similarities: personal devotion to a cause, both groups may include people who enjoy violence for its own sake; both are pursuing a policy they hope will succeed.

15.   Weakness and a world view that said colonial empires had had their day.

16.   Not high; it could not usually zap the terrorists’ territory as it could that of a hostile state.

17.   They were nutters.