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Introduction. WHAT IS TERRORISM?
* Why is the problem of terrorism so acute nowadays?
* What do you know about terrorist organizations existing in Russia
and other foreign countries?
# Read the information and tell about the meaning of the word
“terrorism”
The word terrorism was first used in France to describe a new sys-
tem of government adopted during the French Revolution (1789–1799).
The regime de la terreur (Reign of Terror) was intended to promote de-
mocracy and popular rule by ridding the revolution of its enemies and
thereby purifying it. However, the oppression and violent excesses of the
terreur transformed it into a feared instrument of the state. From that
time on, terrorism has had a decidedly negative connotation. The word,
however, did not gain wider popularity until the late 19th century when it
was adopted by a group of Russian revolutionaries to describe their vio-
lent struggle against tsarist rule. Terrorism then assumed the more famil-
iar antigovernment associations it has today.
# Study the text and explain the aphorism: “One man’s terrorist is
another man’s freedom”
TERRORISM AS A POLITICAL ACT
Terrorism is by nature political because it involves the acquisition
and use of power for the purpose of forcing others to submit, or agree, to
terrorist demands. A terrorist attack, by generating publicity and focusing
attention on the organization behind the attack, is designed to create this
power. It also fosters an environment of fear and intimidation that the
terrorists can manipulate. As a result terrorism’s success is best measured
by its ability to attract attention to the terrorists and their cause and by the
psychological impact it exerts over a nation and its citizenry. It differs in
this respect from conventional warfare, where success is measured by the
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amount of military assets destroyed, the amount of territory seized, and
the number of enemy dead.
Terrorists typically attempt to justify their use of violence by argu-
ing that they have been excluded from, or frustrated by, the accepted
processes of bringing about political change. They maintain that terror-
ism is the only option available to them, although their choice is a reluc-
tant – even a regrettable – one. Whether someone agrees with this argu-
ment or not often depends on whether the person sympathizes with the
terrorists’ cause or with the victims of the terrorist attack. The aphorism
“One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter” underscores how
use of the label terrorism can be highly subjective depending upon one’s
sympathies.
At the same time terrorist acts – including murder, kidnapping, as-
sassination, hijacking and arson – have long been defined in both na-
tional and international law as crimes. Even in time of war, violence de-
liberately directed against innocent civilians is considered a crime. Simi-
larly, violence that spreads beyond an acknowledged geographical thea-
ter of war to violate the territory of neutral or noncombatant states is also
deemed a war crime.
# Match each word on the left with its definition on the right:
1. murder a. taking away people by force and demanding
money for their return
2. arson b. killing of political or public people for a reward
or ideological reasons
3. kidnapping c. deliberate creation and exploitation of fear for
bringing about political change, involving vio-
lence
4. hijacking d. killing someone deliberately
5. bombing e. setting fire to property intentionally
6. assassination f. taking control of a plane by force and demand-
ing the pilot to change the course
7. terrorism g. putting a bomb in a public place
Introduction. WHAT IS TERRORISM? amount of military assets destroyed, the amount of territory seized, and
the number of enemy dead.
* Why is the problem of terrorism so acute nowadays? Terrorists typically attempt to justify their use of violence by argu-
* What do you know about terrorist organizations existing in Russia ing that they have been excluded from, or frustrated by, the accepted
and other foreign countries? processes of bringing about political change. They maintain that terror-
ism is the only option available to them, although their choice is a reluc-
# Read the information and tell about the meaning of the word tant – even a regrettable – one. Whether someone agrees with this argu-
“terrorism” ment or not often depends on whether the person sympathizes with the
The word terrorism was first used in France to describe a new sys- terrorists’ cause or with the victims of the terrorist attack. The aphorism
tem of government adopted during the French Revolution (1789–1799). “One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter” underscores how
The regime de la terreur (Reign of Terror) was intended to promote de- use of the label terrorism can be highly subjective depending upon one’s
mocracy and popular rule by ridding the revolution of its enemies and sympathies.
thereby purifying it. However, the oppression and violent excesses of the At the same time terrorist acts – including murder, kidnapping, as-
terreur transformed it into a feared instrument of the state. From that sassination, hijacking and arson – have long been defined in both na-
time on, terrorism has had a decidedly negative connotation. The word, tional and international law as crimes. Even in time of war, violence de-
however, did not gain wider popularity until the late 19th century when it liberately directed against innocent civilians is considered a crime. Simi-
was adopted by a group of Russian revolutionaries to describe their vio- larly, violence that spreads beyond an acknowledged geographical thea-
lent struggle against tsarist rule. Terrorism then assumed the more famil- ter of war to violate the territory of neutral or noncombatant states is also
iar antigovernment associations it has today. deemed a war crime.
# Study the text and explain the aphorism: “One man’s terrorist is
another man’s freedom” # Match each word on the left with its definition on the right:
1. murder a. taking away people by force and demanding
TERRORISM AS A POLITICAL ACT money for their return
Terrorism is by nature political because it involves the acquisition 2. arson b. killing of political or public people for a reward
and use of power for the purpose of forcing others to submit, or agree, to or ideological reasons
terrorist demands. A terrorist attack, by generating publicity and focusing 3. kidnapping c. deliberate creation and exploitation of fear for
attention on the organization behind the attack, is designed to create this bringing about political change, involving vio-
power. It also fosters an environment of fear and intimidation that the lence
terrorists can manipulate. As a result terrorism’s success is best measured 4. hijacking d. killing someone deliberately
by its ability to attract attention to the terrorists and their cause and by the 5. bombing e. setting fire to property intentionally
psychological impact it exerts over a nation and its citizenry. It differs in 6. assassination f. taking control of a plane by force and demand-
this respect from conventional warfare, where success is measured by the ing the pilot to change the course
7. terrorism g. putting a bomb in a public place
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