First what is terrorism Terrorism can be seen as politicallymotivated violence or threat of violence with the intent of spreading fear The goal is more to generate widespread fear than to inflict physical damage ID: 421285
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Slide1
Terrorism and the mediaSlide2
First, what is terrorism?
Terrorism can be seen as politically-motivated violence or threat of violence with the intent of spreading fear
The goal is more to generate widespread fear than to inflict physical damage
Even in the case of the 9-11 attacks, where the physical damage was significant, the real goal was to spread fear in the wider United StatesSlide3
Note:
The very definition of “terrorism” and, therefore, “terrorist” is very controversial
It has a very negative connotation that will often reduce people’s willingness to see an individual, group or country in a new light
The United States has defined terrorism as non-state violence
This officially make the United States and its allies exempt from the definition
However, when a country supports a militant group, it may be accused of state-sponsored terrorSlide4Slide5
What are the hallmarks of
terrorist propaganda?
Propaganda of the deed—that is, the action itself is much of the communication
The World Trade Center/Pentagon attacks were not random, obviously
The Pentagon attack was fairly clear in its direction at the U.S. military
“Random” attacks carry their own message
Claims of responsibility after the fact
Maximum bloodshed and mayhem
Meant to be known as attacks—secret killings are of little value
Brutality meant to be especially difficult for object of attack to acceptSlide6Slide7Slide8Slide9
What messages do terrorist
attacks carry?
We are here
Simply letting it be known that the terrorist group exists
Claiming importance or legitimacy within the wider terrorist network
You are in danger
The awareness of the simple existence of danger is meant to be unsettling
The danger will continue
Attacks will continueSlide10
You cannot protect yourselves
The terrorists are powerful enough to carry out the attacks
The terrorists act in ways that are very difficult to prevent or control
You cannot tell where they will strike
The terrorists are willing to accept personal danger or death in order to carry out their attacks
They are deeply (religiously) committed
They are relentless
They are secretive
They are effective
Our cause is just
You have brought this on yourselvesSlide11
How do domestic governments counter the terrorists’ messages?
The terrorists are irrational
Religious fervor represents mindless fanaticism
They do not negotiate rationally
They do not accept reasonable rules
They kill innocent women and children
We can and will defeat them
We are more powerful than they are
They are cowardly and when confronted they will runSlide12
Their crimes call out for punishment
They cannot be appeased—they will simply become more dangerous
Their beliefs are contrary to ours
Their goal is to utterly destroy us
We have done nothing to deserve this—we are the innocent and aggrieved partySlide13
But . . .
We will have to sacrifice
For as long as it takes
We will need to spend great amounts of money to combat the terrorists
Sadly, this money will have to come from somewhere
We can trim it from all the fat in the domestic programs
It will be necessary to give up some of our civil liberties in order to confront this threat
Including privacy, freedom of speech and freedom of the press
These are hampering our ability to find and combat terrorists
These sacrifices will make us saferSlide14
The outcome of terrorism
Terrorism tends to radicalize and militarize relations between nations
Gives a stronger hand to the more extreme voices in governments
Problematizes interactions between states
Middle East
Encourages authoritarian actions within states
Is occasionally successful in influencing or overthrowing domestic authority
Can backfire
Is rarely successful in overthrowing foreign regimes
Sometimes can influence public policy, but may backfire
Hope that they get tired of fighting
Vietnam
Costs many lives and vast amounts of moneySlide15
Why engage in a relatively unsuccessful form of propaganda?
Terrorism is armed opposition among those
who don’t have
the military strength to overthrow a government or expel a foreign influence and cannot effectively access less violent means of political action
Government propaganda/media control blocks them out
Third countries may gain sympathy for the plight of the aggrieved group
Palestinians
Shining Path
Tamil TigersSlide16Slide17Slide18
The Iraq War has not made
Americans IsolationistSlide19Slide20
A battle over the framing of terrorism