Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface to the second edition
- Preface to the first edition
- Part One An introduction to political terrorism
- Part Two Some selected problems in the response to terrorism
- 8 Counter-terrorist policies: fundamental choices
- 9 Terrorism and the media: a symbiotic relationship?
- 10 The role of the army in counter-terrorist operations
- 11 The legal regulation of terrorism: international and national measures
- 12 Counter-measures against terrorism: the intelligence function
- 13 Terrorist hostage-takings
- 14 Counter-measures against terrorism: the role of behavioural science research
- 15 State involvement in international terrorism
- 16 The future of political terrorism
- Notes
- Select bibliography
- Index
15 - State involvement in international terrorism
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 January 2012
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface to the second edition
- Preface to the first edition
- Part One An introduction to political terrorism
- Part Two Some selected problems in the response to terrorism
- 8 Counter-terrorist policies: fundamental choices
- 9 Terrorism and the media: a symbiotic relationship?
- 10 The role of the army in counter-terrorist operations
- 11 The legal regulation of terrorism: international and national measures
- 12 Counter-measures against terrorism: the intelligence function
- 13 Terrorist hostage-takings
- 14 Counter-measures against terrorism: the role of behavioural science research
- 15 State involvement in international terrorism
- 16 The future of political terrorism
- Notes
- Select bibliography
- Index
Summary
In the 1980s the issue which has dominated discussion of international terrorism is the extent to which it is influenced, aided, planned, financed or controlled by sovereign states. There is little disagreement in the literature that state involvement in terrorism has increased significantly in recent years and that this level of involvement has implications for the ways in which terrorism may be countered. There is major disagreement, however, over the definition of international terrorism, what constitutes state sponsorship of or involvement in it, what strategic, domestic or foreign policy goals are intended to be pursued by such sponsorship, which states are involved in sponsoring or influencing terrorist groups, and how to evaluate the alleged evidence of state involvement. In essence, the lack of a universally accepted definition of terrorism and the aggressive and abrasive nature of relations between different states and political ideologies serve to amplify the problems of lack of objectivity which typify discussions of terrorism. As with domestic terrorism, the labelling of an act as one of state-sponsored terrorism depends largely on the political perspective of the labeller. An act committed by an opponent state will be readily condemned as state-sponsored terrorism, whereas the same act committed by an ally (or one's own country) will be called something else, or justified, or simply not commented on.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Political TerrorismTheory, Tactics and Counter-Measures, pp. 175 - 186Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1989