Deck 2: The Nature of the Beast: Defining Terrorism

Question 1

The statement "one person's terrorist is another person's freedom fighter" ______.

A) refers to the importance of one's perspective regarding political violence
B) was a rallying slogan from the French Revolution
C) was a rallying slogan from the Russian Revolution
D) both "was a rallying slogan from the French Revolution " and "was a rallying slogan from the Russian Revolution"

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Among participants in a terrorist environment, which of the following serves as a patron for the terrorists?

A) the onlooker
B) the analyst
C) the supporter
D) none of these

Answer 2

C

Question 3

The statement "it became necessary to destroy the town to save it" ______.

A) represents an explanation for how violent extremists justify their violent actions
B) was a rallying slogan used to explain the U.S. war in Vietnam
C) neither "represents an explanation for how violent extremists justify their violent actions" nor "was a rallying slogan used to explain the U.S. war in Vietnam"
D) both "represents an explanation for how violent extremists justify their violent actions" and "was a rallying slogan used to explain the U.S. war in Vietnam"

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which of the following propositions most accurately describes guerrilla warfare?

A) Guerrilla warfare is synonymous with terrorism.
B) Guerrilla warfare exhibits a strategy of hit-and-run warfare.
C) Guerrilla warfare often fields large standing armies.
D) Both "guerrilla warfare is synonymous with terrorism" and "guerrilla warfare exhibits a strategy of hit-and-run warfare."

Question 5

Which of the following statements most accurately describes attributes of extremism?

A) Extremism represents a lunatic fringe.
B) Extremism represents the fertile soil from which terrorism grows.
C) Extremism represents the just indignation of the oppressed of the world.
D) Both "extremism represents a lunatic fringe" and "extremism represents the fertile soil from which terrorism grows."

Question 6

Types of terrorism include ______.

A) seasonal terrorism
B) conventional terrorism
C) dissident terrorism
D) all of these

Question 7

Conventional warfare and terrorism are distinguishable by which of the following attributes?

A) Conventional warfare is very successful in comparison to terrorism.
B) Terrorism is a "dirtier" and more unfair method of violence.
C) Conventional warfare is waged primarily to defeat an adversary's armed forces, whereas terrorism is used primarily to affect a broader audience or population.
D) Terrorism is a "poor man's warfare," whereas conventional warfare is a "rich man's warfare."

Question 8

Which of the following statements is most accurate?

A) All terrorists are extremists.
B) All extremists are terrorists.
C) All hate crimes are acts of terrorism.
D) Both "all extremists are terrorists" and "all hate crimes are acts of terrorism."

Question 9

Which of the following statements regarding extremism is most accurate?

A) Extremists always live on the margins of society.
B) Some extremists have justifiable grievances against their adversaries.
C) "One person's extremist is another person's neighbor."
D) Extremists clearly understand oppression.

Question 10

Among participants in a terrorist environment, which of the following represents a symbolic feature of the terrorists' enemies?

A) the onlooker
B) the analyst
C) the supporter
D) none of these

Question 11

Among participants in a terrorist environment, which of the following creates perspectives, interprets incidents, and labels the other participants?

A) the onlooker
B) the analyst
C) the supporter
D) none of these

Question 12

Are hate crimes acts of terrorism?

A) Yes, because they always include an element of terror.
B) Yes, because they represent the same behavior.
C) No, they are simply another type of crime.
D) Perhaps, depending on the circumstances of the crime.

Question 13

The debate on defining terrorism ______.

A) was resolved in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the United States
B) was resolved by political leaders and scholars
C) is an ongoing process
D) both "was resolved in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the United States" and "was resolved by political leaders and scholars"

Question 14

Which of the following propositions most accurately describes the status of captured terrorists?

A) As enemy combatants, they are afforded legal protections under international law.
B) As prisoners of war, they are afforded legal protections under international law.
C) The rights of captured terrorists are affected by what their designation is when captured.
D) Both "as prisoners of war, they are afforded legal protections under international law" and "the rights of captured terrorists are affected by what their designation is when captured."

Question 15

The statement "one man willing to throw away his life is enough to terrorize a thousand" ______.

A) is a rallying slogan used by suicide bombers
B) is an ancient concept concerning the fear that can be created by a dedicated adversary
C) is attributed to the Chinese military philosophers Sun Tzu and Wu Ch'i
D) both "is a very ancient concept concerning the fear that can be created by a dedicated adversary" and "is attributed to the Chinese military philosophers Sun Tzu and Wu Ch'i"

Question 16

Which of the following statements is most accurate regarding the American definition of terrorism?

A) The United States coordinates its definition of terrorism with allied European countries.
B) The United States has adopted an official definition of terrorism.
C) The United States has not adopted a single definition of terrorism as a matter of government policy.
D) Both "the United States coordinates its definition of terrorism with allied European countries" and "the United States has adopted an official definition of terrorism."

Question 17

Which of the following characteristics most accurately describes the attributes of extremism?

A) tolerance
B) new language and conspiratorial beliefs
C) moral relativism
D) both "tolerance" and "new language and conspiratorial beliefs"

Question 18

The statement "extremism in defense of liberty is no vice" ______.

A) represents an explanation for how and why violent extremists justify their violent actions
B) was a rallying slogan used during the 1964 U.S. presidential election
C) neither "represents an explanation for how and why violent extremists justify their violent actions" nor "was a rallying slogan used during the 1964 U.S. presidential election"
D) both "represents an explanation for how and why violent extremists justify their violent actions" and "was a rallying slogan used during the 1964 U.S. presidential election"

Question 19

The Political Violence Matrix is designed to represent which of the following?

A) scales of violence, but not terrorism
B) terrorism, but not scales of violence
C) scales of violence and terrorism
D) none of these

Question 20

The worldview of extremists will often ______.

A) set them apart from the rest of society
B) consist of conspiracy theories
C) give them a very clear sense of mission and purpose
D) all of these

Question 21

The Political Violence Matrix describes scales of violence, but not terrorism.

Question 22

In what ways does the example of the Cold War revolutionaries suggest that idealism is an important factor in extremist behavior?

Question 23

All terrorists are extremists.

Question 24

Freedom fighters are always the "good guys" in a cause.

Question 25

Briefly critique the official labeling of political opponents and supporters by governments.

Question 26

What is the significance of the following statement: "It became necessary to destroy the town to save it"?

Question 27

Briefly discuss the official American approach toward defining terrorism.

Question 28

What is the significance of the following statement: "One man willing to throw away his life is enough to terrorize a thousand"?

Question 29

What is the significance of the following statement: "Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice"?

Question 30

Figuring out whether someone is a "terrorist" or "freedom fighter" is never a matter of perspective.

Question 31

Why is it critically important for one to understand the nature and quality of extremism when studying the attributes of terrorism?

Question 32

Briefly discuss the importance of context and perspective in the debate over defining terrorism.

Question 33

Terrorists are easily identified as terrorists.

Question 34

Scholars and political leaders have established a single and clear definition of terrorism.

Question 35

All extremists are terrorists.

Question 36

Extremists always live on the fringe of societies.

Question 37

The United States uses a single, unified definition of terrorism.

Question 38

Briefly discuss several differences between warfare and terrorism.

Question 39

So-called hate crimes are never acts of terrorism.

Question 40

What is the significance of the following statement: "One person's terrorist is another person's freedom fighter"?

Question 41

Few revolutionaries in the developing world, if any, would describe their behavior as terrorism. Yet, many Cold War and post-Cold War revolutionaries engaged in what could be defined as terrorism. Discuss, from their perspective, whether these tactics were acts of terrorism.

Question 42

Why are there so many definitions of terrorism? What has been the difficulty in arriving at a common definition? Critique some of these definitions.

Question 43

Discuss and critique the proposition that many extremists use the term terrorism too infrequently to describe the behavior of causes that they favor.

Question 44

Discuss and critique the proposition that many commentators use the term terrorism too freely and loosely to suit their own political agendas.

Question 45

The New Terrorism will be the predominant terrorist environment for the foreseeable future. In what ways have we all become participants in the modern environment?

Question 46

Discuss the importance of using political labels to describe friends and foes.

Question 47

Are hate crimes acts of terrorism? If so, in what way? If not, why not? Explain your answer.

Question 48

In what ways do you think the definition of terrorism will change or evolve in the era of the New Terrorism?

Question 49

What is extremism? What are its common characteristics? Why is extremism frequently justified by activists as being necessary? Explain your answer.

Question 50

If terrorism and guerrilla warfare are examples of "poor man's warfare," in your opinion are they therefore necessary and understandable options? If so, why? If not, why not?