Terrorism and the media

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 States

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 terror

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 accept

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 continue

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 yourselves

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 run

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 party

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 safer

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 money

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 Tigers

The Iraq War has not made Americans Isolationist

A battle over the framing of terrorism