Deck 5: Terror From Below: Terrorism by Dissidents

Question 1

Communal dissident terrorism refers to

A) significant degrees of violence between population groups.
B) terrorism in the countryside ("communes").
C) communist-inspired terrorism.
D) uprisings by communities against government oppression.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Which of the following attributes characterizes anti-state dissident terrorism?

A) nationalistic motivations
B) ideological terrorism by small movements
C) communal conflict
D) all of these

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Which of the following statements best describes the Tupamaros?

A) Nationalist insurgents who engaged in extensive political violence over many years, resulting in widespread social disruption. They were eventually suppressed by the government.
B) Urban leftists who engaged in targeted political violence, resulting in widespread social disruption and victory for the movement.
C) Nationalist insurgents who engaged in targeted political violence, resulting in the collapse of a democratic government and victory for the movement.
D) Urban leftists who engaged in extensive political violence, resulting in the collapse of a democratic government which was replaced by an authoritarian dictatorship that suppressed the movement.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Which of the following statements most accurately describes the new dissident terrorist morality?

A) Dissident terrorists engage in "surgical" attacks in order to maximize civilian casualties and damage.
B) Dissident terrorists conscientiously attempt to avoid negative publicity.
C) Dissident terrorists deliberately attempt to maximize civilian casualties and damage.
D) Both "dissident terrorists engage in "surgical" attacks in order to civilian casualties and damage" and "dissident terrorists conscientiously attempt to avoid negative publicity."

Question 5

The conflict between Palestinian nationalists and Israel

A) was resolved with the end of the Cold War.
B) was resolved during several phases of negotiations.
C) has continued since the founding of the state of Israel.
D) both "was resolved with the end of the Cold War" and "was resolved during several phases of negotiations."

Question 6

Which of the following statements best describes the Tamil Tigers?

A) Nationalist insurgents who engaged in extensive political violence over many years, resulting in widespread social disruption. They were eventually suppressed by the government.
B) Urban leftists who engaged in targeted political violence, resulting in widespread social disruption and victory for the movement.
C) Nationalist insurgents who engaged in targeted political violence, resulting in the collapse of a democratic government and victory for the movement.
D) Urban leftists who engaged in extensive political violence, resulting in the collapse of a democratic government which was replaced by an authoritarian dictatorship that suppressed the movement.

Question 7

"Lone-wolf" acts of political violence refer to

A) eco-terrorism by groups like the Earth Liberation Front.
B) terrorism carried out by members and agents of established terrorist organizations.
C) terrorism that is useful for intimidating neutral and undecided individuals.
D) terrorism carried out by individuals who are not official or formal members or agents of established terrorist organizations.

Question 8

Foreign Terrorist Organizations are listed in which of the following publications?

A) The Annual Report on Terrorism
B) Country Reports of Terrorist Attacks
C) Foreign Terrorist Organizations
D) Country Reports on Terrorism

Question 9

Revolutionary nationalists often argue that terrorist violence may be acceptable and necessary because

A) they are cold-blooded killers.
B) they are freedom fighters, so the end justifies the means.
C) they consider it to be a legitimate military and political tactic to use against militarily stronger adversaries.
D) both "they are cold-blooded killers" and "they are freedom fighters, so the end justifies the means."

Question 10

Which of the following statements regarding the New Terrorism is most accurate?

A) The New Terrorism represents an era in which the morality of terrorist violence is undeveloped.
B) The New Terrorism represents an era in which the morality of terrorist violence allows for few limitations on extremist behavior.
C) The New Terrorism represents an era in which the morality of terrorist violence places strict limitations on extremist behavior.
D) None of these.

Question 11

Which of the following statements is most accurate?

A) Cell-based organizational arrangements among violent extremists proliferated in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks.
B) Paramilitary organizational arrangements among violent extremists proliferated with the breakdown of authoritarian regimes in the Middle East and elsewhere.
C) Most violent extremists engage in lone-wolf attacks.
D) Both "cell-based organizational arrangements among violent extremists proliferated in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks" and "paramilitary organizational arrangements among violent extremists proliferated with the breakdown of authoritarian regimes in the Middle East and elsewhere."

Question 12

Which of the following descriptors most accurately describes the Maoist concepts of "people's war" and "war of national liberation?"

A) indiscriminate warfare against adversaries
B) the use of standing armies to defend the nation against enemies, both foreign and domestic
C) mobilization of the people to engage in guerrilla warfare
D) all of these.

Question 13

Regarding success for dissident rebellions, the Tupamaros represent which of the following?

A) long-term success and short-term failure
B) short-term success and long-term failure
C) long-term success and long-term failure
D) short-term success and short-term failure

Question 14

Leaders of nationalist and other insurgent movements, such as Yasir Arafat, are often vilified as terrorists by their opponents but defended by their supporters because

A) from the perspective of their opponents, they are insane killers.
B) from the perspective of their supporters, they are liberators and freedom fighters.
C) from the perspective of their opponents, they are fundamentally marginal in regards to politics.
D) from the perspective of their supporters, they are godlike.

Question 15

Nationalists have sought to attract international attention by engaging in which of the following behaviors?

A) carpet-bombing of civilian sites
B) airline hijackings
C) hiring mercenary proxies to fight on their behalf
D) both "carpet-bombing of civilian sites" and "airline hijackings"

Question 16

As defined in the discussion presented in the textbook, which of the following statements best summarizes the vision of nihilist dissident terrorists?

A) Nihilists have a clear vision about the type of society they wish to establish after victory.
B) Nihilists seek to reform society slowly after victory.
C) Nihilists have no clear vision about the type of society they wish to build, they only seek to destroy the existing order.
D) None of these.

Question 17

The conscription and use of child soldiers

A) is universally condemned by violent extremists.
B) is minor issue in comparison to larger issues.
C) is practiced only by religious extremists.
D) is a significant global problem because both extremist movements and some governments conscript children and youths.

Question 18

Which of the following statements regarding violent dissidents is most accurate?

A) Violent dissidents always have a faith in victory that is often unrealistic.
B) Violent dissidents have a clear understanding of the likelihood of success.
C) Violent dissidents are delusional.
D) Violent dissidents never have a chance for victory.

Question 19

Which of the following movements was among the first to routinely use suicide bombers?

A) the Tupamaros
B) the Red Army Faction
C) the Red Brigade
D) the Tamil Tigers

Question 20

As defined in the discussion presented in the textbook, which of the following statements best summarizes the vision of revolutionary dissident terrorists?

A) Revolutionaries have a clear vision about the type of society they wish to establish after victory.
B) Revolutionaries seek to reform society slowly after victory.
C) Revolutionaries have no clear vision about the type of society they wish to build, they only seek to destroy the existing order.
D) None of these.

Question 21

The Tupamaros represent a case of short-term success, long-term failure for dissident rebellion.

Question 22

In your opinion, is nihilist violence ever justifiable? Briefly explain your answer.

Question 23

The Red Army Faction's leaders committed suicide in prison.

Question 24

Briefly discuss the terrorist environment created by Uruguay's Tupamaros.

Question 25

Describe the evolution in motivation and ideology within the Palestinian movement. Why did a movement like Hamas become so prominent?

Question 26

Discuss why, from the perspective of revolutionary nationalists, terrorist violence may sometimes be acceptable and/or necessary.

Question 27

The Tamil Tigers were among the first movements to routinely use suicide bombers.

Question 28

The Tupamaros are an example of extremists leading the people to a successful revolution after provoking the government to react violently.

Question 29

Terrorists and other violent dissidents have a faith in victory that is often unrealistic.

Question 30

The Red Brigade was a West German terrorist movement that regularly attacked German and NATO targets.

Question 31

Briefly discuss the terrorist environment created by Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers.

Question 32

The PLO was ultimately defeated by Israel.

Question 33

The New Terrorism represents an era in which the morality of terrorist violence allows for few limitations on extremist behavior.

Question 34

What are the reasons behind the rise in cell-based organizational arrangements among revolutionaries and the decline in paramilitary arrangements? Describe the characteristics of cell-based and paramilitary arrangements.

Question 35

Communal terrorism represents a selective use of violence that is less intense than many terrorist campaigns.

Question 36

Briefly discuss the motivations behind "lone-wolf" acts of political violence.

Question 37

Nihilist dissidents have a clear vision for the post-revolution society.

Question 38

Briefly discuss why Yasir Arafat and other leaders are vilified by their opponents but defended by their supporters.

Question 39

In your opinion, can the conscription of child soldiers ever be justified as a matter of practical necessity? Explain your answer.

Question 40

In your opinion, are rebels sometimes labeled too quickly as terrorists?

Question 41

In your opinion, should the international community intervene when genocidal communal terrorism occurs? Discuss the circumstances when this would be a necessary policy option.

Question 42

In your opinion, is selection of hijackings and other international violence by nationalists necessary from their perspective? Was it justifiable?

Question 43

Discuss why the new terrorist morality occurred.

Question 44

Compare and contrast the motives of nihilist and revolutionary dissident terrorists. Why would dissidents adopt a nihilist vision rather than a revolutionary vision? In your opinion, does the logic of one make more sense than the other? Explain your answer.

Question 45

Why do some dissidents adopt anti-state terrorism as a strategy? What do they hope to accomplish?

Question 46

Using the case of Chechen violence against Russian interests, critique the new dissident terrorist morality. Are the Chechens fighting on behalf of a just cause? Is their warfighting methodology morally understandable under the circumstances? Explain your answer.

Question 47

Discuss the factors which give rise to communal dissident terrorism. Why do population groups engage in massive degrees of violence against other groups? Is such violence ever justifiable or otherwise understandable? Explain your answer.

Question 48

Using the case of Palestinian violence against Israeli interests, discuss the Maoist concepts of "people's war" and "war of national liberation." Discuss why the Palestinian nationalist movement has been viable for decades despite repeated setbacks and constant Israeli pressure.

Question 49

In your opinion, what explains sectarian violence in societies which have long histories of residing together, such as Lebanon, Yugoslavia, and Northern Ireland?