Historical Context of Global Terrorism
The contemporary era of global terrorism can be traced back four decades, as evidenced in the CNN series “The Seventies.” While terrorism has witnessed a surge worldwide in the past forty years, the frequency of terrorist incidents in the United States has significantly declined since the turbulent 1970s. Around the middle of the 1970s, there was an average of 50 to 60 instances of explosive devices being detonated by terrorists in the country annually.
In contrast, from 2002 to 2013, the United States experienced only 214 acts of terrorism, resulting in the death of 61 individuals (Jenkins, 2015). The terrorism of the 1970s occurred against the backdrop of the Vietnam War and the Cold War, and despite being a concern, it did not instill the same level of fear among Americans as it does currently. Since the 1970s, terrorists have developed and improved their abilities through the use of six basic strategies, which include bombing, taking over airplanes, using hostages as barricades, assassination, armed attacks, and abduction. The advent of dynamite in the 19th century allowed for more frequent terrorist bombings, which continue to be the most prevalent tactic employed by terrorists.
Global and National Counterterrorism Efforts
In response, governments worldwide have implemented new laws and treaties to combat terrorism. The United States established the Cabinet Committee to Combat Terrorism in 1972 (Jenkins, 2015). On the global level, a number of nations have formed alliances to combat terrorism, including the European Union’s establishment of the European Counter Terrorism Centre (ECTC).
Leftist terrorism in the United States during the 1970s can be classified into different types. The most notable type was revolutionary terrorism, which aimed to overthrow the government and establish a socialist state. The Weather Underground, a radical leftist organization, employed revolutionary terrorism strategies such as bombing government buildings and banks. Another type was nationalist terrorism, which aimed to achieve independence or self-rule for a specific group or region.
The New Left and Political Radicalism
There was also the New Left, a political movement that emerged in response to what its members saw as the failures of the traditional Left to address issues such as civil rights, gender equality, and environmentalism. Its members were largely young, college-educated individuals who rejected the authoritarianism and dogmatism of Marxist-Leninist parties and sought to develop new forms of political organization and action (Hou et al., 2020). While not all members of the New Left were terrorists, some factions within the movement did engage in acts of violence, such as bombings and kidnappings, in order to further their political goals.
There were other extremist organizations during that era. The Weatherman Underground was a left-wing extremist organization that emerged in the late 1960s as a faction of the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). The group was dedicated to the overthrow of the US government and sought to establish a socialist state, as well as liberate oppressed groups such as African Americans and women (Hou et al., 2020). The Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) had the same goals but more violent tactics.
US Policy on Domestic and International Terrorism
The policy of the United States has been to prohibit the implementation of terrorist tactics, although the dismantling of terrorist groups from other countries has not been a priority. The responsibility of dismantling domestic terrorist groups has been delegated to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and local law enforcement agencies (Jenkins, 2015). The advent of the Global War on Terror was still distant; however, the challenge of combating small yet lethal groups that exhibited an increasing ability to cause death, destruction, and disruption, and whose grievances could not always be appeased, was already a cause of tension.
Evolution of Terrorism Over Four Decades
This article presents a thorough overview of the evolution of global terrorism, with a specific emphasis on the United States and its response to both domestic and international threats. Overall, this article provides a comprehensive and insightful analysis of the evolution of global terrorism, particularly in the United States, and highlights the urgency of addressing the ongoing threat of terrorism. The study of the evolution of terrorism over the last forty years is a captivating area of research. While the decrease in terrorist activities within the United States is a promising trend, the escalation of global terrorism and the implementation of more advanced strategies by terrorists are worrisome developments.
References
Hou, D., Gaibulloev, K., & Sandler, T. (2020). Introducing extended data on terrorist groups (EDTG), 1970 to 2016. Journal of Conflict Resolution, 64(1), 199-225.
Jenkins, B. M. (2015). The 1970s and the birth of contemporary terrorism. The Hill, 30.