Political Sociology
Create state of psychological or emotional
anxiety + fear
Esp. for those who have nothing to
324 do with the terrorist actions/aims
o Create widespread fear + intimidation
Victims chosen in way that their death/threat of their
death/physical harm places govt (and other structures)
Section 4: Power Beyond the under pressure to give way to prevent a more destructive
Rules result
Recent/Important Terrorist Acts:
o 9/11(Twin Towers Bombing)
Note: These notes are compiled by my interpretation of the Small group of terrorists creating major
respective readings as well as the audio slides provided by Dr L. situation
Heinecken o Boko Haram – Nigeria
o al Shabaab à shopping mall bombing (Kenya)
Lecture 17: Terrorism
Mozambique
Terrorism is a tactic used by a weak organisation to harm a
Reading: Crenshaw; Vasilenko stronger foe
o Terrorist excluded from established channels of
Terrorism:
political negotiation
What is terrorism? o Used to force negotiation/compromise
o FEAR, HORROR inspired by violent means State has responsibility of providing security to its citizens
o Political act beyond that of established political o When freedom & protection of citizens curtailed à
systems often public support to reach some kind of
Does not exist within ules of society settlement
o Illegal use of violence against persons, property to Terrorism is not only used by groups, but also by
intimate/coercion a govt/civilian population governments against their own people
(sectional or whole) to further political + social o Use of violence, generally without support of law,
objectives against individuals or groups
o Terrorist doesn’t actually have to detonate o E.g. Apartheid: Govt used terror tactics (calling ANC
bomb/kill anyone à must just demonstrate ability to Terrorists) to target them
do so
, Democracies are more vulnerable to terrorist attacks than
autoracies or totalitarian regimes.
o Why would this be the case?
Democracies more vulnerable to COVID-19
than authoratrian/totalitarian states
Secuirty forces generally not geared to
combat terrorist forces Classification of terrorism
Authoratrian states geared to deal with
these type of actions
Typical terrorist attackes (hijacking,
kidnapping,etc) have been difficult for dems
to detect – esp in the past
Terror groupsabile to more readily
enter buildings/loactions, set
bombs, tc
Privacy rights mean dems have less
surveillance opportunities
o (changing with increase in
terrorism across world)
Totalitarian + Authoritarian govts can only survive when
using terror tactics against their own citizens by inciting fear
+ intimidation
o Many states have routinely employed terror against Different types of terrorist actions
their citizens to force political will/compliance Mass Terror: Apartheid state enforcing compliance
o Closer surveillance of their citizens o Organised/unorganised
Terrorism is always a matter of definitions Dynastic Terror: derail specific political process
o One person’s terrorist is another’s freedom fighter Random Terror: most typical/common
o Nelson mandela once labelled as a terrosit (under o Committed by individuals/groups
Apartheid) o Kill as many as possible à innocent civilians
o A actvist/freedom fighter/ someone fighting for What are the conditions that lead to terrorism?
liberation/change against a state, will be considered
a terrorist to that state
, o Only occurs when all other avenues are closed off à Signals that govt organisations need to take
a group sees the need for radical change in status these matters seriously
quo Evokes pressure from citizens to handle the
E.g. Apartheid: majority population didn’t terror situtation
have right to vote & peaceful means had o Serve as grounds for revolution
failed to bring about political change Undermines govt authority
o Great dissatisfaction with policies of govt Makes country ungovernable
Demand usually to remove those in power o Demoralise security forces
o Last resort organization will embark on because of Police and military
consequences s E.g. Boko Haram in Nigeria & al Shabaab
o Used when unable to achieve mass mobalisation constantly attacking military bases
Easier to embark on terrorist action where o Exhaust government
there is extreme state repression Constantly having to deal with
Acts of terror can also mobilise masses consequences of terrorist attacks
Considerations in the use of terrorism, costs, and Different tactics used by terrorists
advantages o Hostage taking
Disadvantges Affect govt choices
o Direct consequences Hostages often killed
Survival Many govts often refuse to
o Increase alienation from population negotiate/bargain with terrorists
When a terrorist organisation inflicts Generally engage in armed rescue
indiscriminate violence in extremes attempt
Terrorists need to choose tactic carefully o Bombings
o Elitist Fear
Leading struggle to the few > masses Mass casualties
o Undermine mass action Harmful subsititue for mass Roads, buildings
action – terrorists disconnected from those they are o Suicide attacks
fighting for Fear
Advantges Mass casualties
o Place issues on agenda Buildings, hotels, markets
Attracts public ations through inflicting o Rocket and mortar attacks
violence Against cities, settlements, military bases
Create state of psychological or emotional
anxiety + fear
Esp. for those who have nothing to
324 do with the terrorist actions/aims
o Create widespread fear + intimidation
Victims chosen in way that their death/threat of their
death/physical harm places govt (and other structures)
Section 4: Power Beyond the under pressure to give way to prevent a more destructive
Rules result
Recent/Important Terrorist Acts:
o 9/11(Twin Towers Bombing)
Note: These notes are compiled by my interpretation of the Small group of terrorists creating major
respective readings as well as the audio slides provided by Dr L. situation
Heinecken o Boko Haram – Nigeria
o al Shabaab à shopping mall bombing (Kenya)
Lecture 17: Terrorism
Mozambique
Terrorism is a tactic used by a weak organisation to harm a
Reading: Crenshaw; Vasilenko stronger foe
o Terrorist excluded from established channels of
Terrorism:
political negotiation
What is terrorism? o Used to force negotiation/compromise
o FEAR, HORROR inspired by violent means State has responsibility of providing security to its citizens
o Political act beyond that of established political o When freedom & protection of citizens curtailed à
systems often public support to reach some kind of
Does not exist within ules of society settlement
o Illegal use of violence against persons, property to Terrorism is not only used by groups, but also by
intimate/coercion a govt/civilian population governments against their own people
(sectional or whole) to further political + social o Use of violence, generally without support of law,
objectives against individuals or groups
o Terrorist doesn’t actually have to detonate o E.g. Apartheid: Govt used terror tactics (calling ANC
bomb/kill anyone à must just demonstrate ability to Terrorists) to target them
do so
, Democracies are more vulnerable to terrorist attacks than
autoracies or totalitarian regimes.
o Why would this be the case?
Democracies more vulnerable to COVID-19
than authoratrian/totalitarian states
Secuirty forces generally not geared to
combat terrorist forces Classification of terrorism
Authoratrian states geared to deal with
these type of actions
Typical terrorist attackes (hijacking,
kidnapping,etc) have been difficult for dems
to detect – esp in the past
Terror groupsabile to more readily
enter buildings/loactions, set
bombs, tc
Privacy rights mean dems have less
surveillance opportunities
o (changing with increase in
terrorism across world)
Totalitarian + Authoritarian govts can only survive when
using terror tactics against their own citizens by inciting fear
+ intimidation
o Many states have routinely employed terror against Different types of terrorist actions
their citizens to force political will/compliance Mass Terror: Apartheid state enforcing compliance
o Closer surveillance of their citizens o Organised/unorganised
Terrorism is always a matter of definitions Dynastic Terror: derail specific political process
o One person’s terrorist is another’s freedom fighter Random Terror: most typical/common
o Nelson mandela once labelled as a terrosit (under o Committed by individuals/groups
Apartheid) o Kill as many as possible à innocent civilians
o A actvist/freedom fighter/ someone fighting for What are the conditions that lead to terrorism?
liberation/change against a state, will be considered
a terrorist to that state
, o Only occurs when all other avenues are closed off à Signals that govt organisations need to take
a group sees the need for radical change in status these matters seriously
quo Evokes pressure from citizens to handle the
E.g. Apartheid: majority population didn’t terror situtation
have right to vote & peaceful means had o Serve as grounds for revolution
failed to bring about political change Undermines govt authority
o Great dissatisfaction with policies of govt Makes country ungovernable
Demand usually to remove those in power o Demoralise security forces
o Last resort organization will embark on because of Police and military
consequences s E.g. Boko Haram in Nigeria & al Shabaab
o Used when unable to achieve mass mobalisation constantly attacking military bases
Easier to embark on terrorist action where o Exhaust government
there is extreme state repression Constantly having to deal with
Acts of terror can also mobilise masses consequences of terrorist attacks
Considerations in the use of terrorism, costs, and Different tactics used by terrorists
advantages o Hostage taking
Disadvantges Affect govt choices
o Direct consequences Hostages often killed
Survival Many govts often refuse to
o Increase alienation from population negotiate/bargain with terrorists
When a terrorist organisation inflicts Generally engage in armed rescue
indiscriminate violence in extremes attempt
Terrorists need to choose tactic carefully o Bombings
o Elitist Fear
Leading struggle to the few > masses Mass casualties
o Undermine mass action Harmful subsititue for mass Roads, buildings
action – terrorists disconnected from those they are o Suicide attacks
fighting for Fear
Advantges Mass casualties
o Place issues on agenda Buildings, hotels, markets
Attracts public ations through inflicting o Rocket and mortar attacks
violence Against cities, settlements, military bases
