Terrorism: Political and Psychological Considerations*
| DOI | 10.1177/000486587600900205 |
| Author | Allen A Bartholomew,Kerry L Milte,Andrew Campbell,Dennis J O'Hearn |
| Published date | 01 June 1976 |
| Date | 01 June 1976 |
AUST &NZ JOURNAL
OF
CRIMINOLOGY (June 1976) 9 (89-94)
TERRORISM:
POLITICAL
AND
PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS0
Kerry L
Milte,t
Allen A
Bartholomew.I
Dennis JO'Hearn,§
Andrew
Campbellf
"
89
Introduction
In the
past
decade
acts of transnational terrorism have
come
to represent a
significant
breakdown
in international order.
Indeed,
as
pointed
out
previously
by
Milte! political
problems
arising
from
the question of the terrorist's motive
have
produced
a
breakdown
in efforts of the
United
Nations even to define
"terrorism" let alone to arrive at international preventive measures
which
might
be
in any
way
meaningful. It is
now
becoming
apparent
that
the
emergent
right
of "peoples" to self-determination is,
perhaps,
the crucial factor in understanding
the dual
phenomena
of transnational terrorism
and
politically
motivated
violence.
The
issue of self-determination has
become
in
many
cases, a post-hoc
rationalization or legitimating excuse, for the release of violent acts which
would
otherwise
be
universally
condemned
as criminal
and
.threatening to
the
peace
of
mankind. Self-determination as a legal right is
capable
in the eyes of some of
excusing
even
the killing of
innocent
hostages.
The
end
has
become
a
complete
and
absolute justification of the means.
Thus,
the
terrorist is
able
to assuage his guilt
because
of international
ambivalence surrounding the issue of political "motive"
and
he is therefore
enabled
to transform ordinary
murderous
violence into a self-perceived
act
of
heroism.
To
the
Algerian government
the
PLO
terrorist is to
be
acclaimed as a
soldier
engaged
in a "just war". So too,
during
the British
mandate
over
Palestine,
were
members
of the
Stem
Gang
regarded
by
the
Jewish
community
as
"freedom
fighters"
engaged
in rightful
combat
against ahostile, illegitimate
occupying
power.
An examination of
the
political motives
attributed
to the
major
guerrilla
movements
operating
in
Europe,
the Middle
East
and
Latin America reveals that
practically all claim to
be
engaged
in "liberation struggles"
whether
they
be
racial, religious or economic or a combination
of
all three. Inextricably,
woven
into the fabric
of
politically
motivated
violence is
the
question: When is it right
to use violence to achieve political ends?
Not
unexpectedly this right is totally
denied
by
governments; particularly those holding
power
by
force or electoral
oPresented to the First Pacific Congress of
Psychiatry;
Melbourne, May 1975.
tLLB, Dip Crim; Barrister-at-Law; Senior Lecturer in Criminology, University of Melbourne.
iMB, BS (Lond), DPM (Lond), MRC Psych; FANZCP, MAPsS; Consultant in Charge, HMP,
Pentridge; Senior Associate in Forensic Psychiatry
and
Part-time Lecturer in Criminology,
University of Melbourne.
§BA; Sub-dean, Faculty of Arts, University of Melbourne.
00
BA (Hons) (Latrobe); Politics Department, Monash University.
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