Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-v9fdk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-05T03:59:48.808Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Fighting Political Terrorism by Refusing Recognition*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 November 2008

Bruno S. Frey
Bruno S. Frey
Affiliation:
Economics, University of Zurich
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Terrorists act rationally; one of their dominating goals is to attract public attention to their cause. As a consequence, the authorities should refrain from attributing a particular terrorist incident to any one group. They should stress that many different actors must be considered as the possible perpetrators. Such an information policy sharply reduces terrorists'rewards. The terrorists are therefore likely to cut down on such activities or must undertake riskier acts, which increase their chance of being caught. The approach suggested is complementary to the policies currently in use; it does not make police measures unnecessary. The strategy is, however, active while the traditional approaches are passive responses to terrorist activities. In contrast to other anti-terrrorist measures, it does not violate human liberties, civil rights or the freedom of the press.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Public Policy , Volume 7 , Issue 2 , April 1987 , pp. 179 - 188
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1987

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Alexander, Y. (1979) ‘Terrorism and the Media: some Consideration’. In: Alexander, Y., Carlton, D. and Wilkinson, P. (eds.), Terrorism: Theory and Practice. Boulder, CO: Westview.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Atkinson, S. E., Sandler, T. and Tschirhart, J. (1987) ‘Terrorism in a Bargaining Framework’, Journai of Lam and Economics, vol. 30, forthcoming.Google Scholar
Cordes, Bonnie et al. , (1984) Trends in International Terrorism, 1982 and 1983b. Santa Monica, CA: Rand.Google Scholar
Corsi, Jerome R. (1981) ‘Terrorism as “Desperate Game”, journal of Conflict Resolution 25, 03.Google Scholar
Crelinsten, Ronald and Szabo, Denis (1980), Hostage Taking. Lexington, MA: Lexington Books.Google Scholar
Gurr, T. R. (1979) ‘Some Characteristics of Political Terrorism in the 1960s’. In: Stohl, M. (ed.), The Politics of Terrorism. New York: Marcel Dekker.Google Scholar
Jenkins, Brian M. and Ronfeldt, D. (1977) Numbered Lives: Some Statistical Observations from 77 International Hostage Episodes. Santa Monica: (P. 5905), Rand.Google Scholar
Jenkins, Brian M. (1982) Terrorism and Beyond: An International Conference on Terrorism and Low-Level Conflict. Santa Monica: Rand.Google Scholar
Kirk, R. M. (1983) ‘Political Terrorism and the Size of Government: a Positive Institutional Analysis of Violent Political Activity’, Public Choice 40.Google Scholar
Landes, William M. (1978) ‘An Economic Study of U.S. Aircraft Hijackings, 1961–1976’, Journal of Law and Economics, vol. 21, 04.Google Scholar
Laqueur, Walter (ed.) (1977) Terrorismus. Kronberg/Ts.: Athenäum.Google Scholar
Laqueur, Walter (1978) Zeugnisse Politischer Gewalt, Dokumente zur Geschichte des Terrorismus. Kronberg/Ts.: Athenäum.Google Scholar
Mickolus, Edward F. (1980) Transnational Terrorism: A Chronology of Events, 1968–1979. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press.Google Scholar
Mickolus, Edward F. (1982a) International Terrorism Attributes of Terrorist Events, ig68-igyy. Ann Arbor, Michigan: Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research.Google Scholar
Midlarsky, Manus J., Crenshaw, Martha and Yoshida, Fumihiko (1980) ‘Why Violence Spreads’, International Studies Quarterly 24, 03, 1.Google Scholar
Mibank, David (1976) International and Transnational Terrorism: Diagnosis and Prognosis.Research Study PR 76 10030. Central Intelligence Agency, Office of Political Research. Washington D.C.Google Scholar
Miller, A. H. (1979) ‘Hostage negotiations and the concept of transference’. In: Alexander, Y., Carlton, D. and Wilkinson, P. (eds.), Terrorism: Theory and Practice. Boulder, Co.: Westview Press.Google Scholar
Sandler, T., Tschirhardt, J. and Cauley, J. (1983), ‘A Theoretical Analysis of Transnational Terrorism’, American Political Science Review, vol 77.Google Scholar
Sandler, Todd and Scott, John L. (1987) ‘Terrorist Success in Hostage Taking: an Empirical Study’, Journal of Conflict Resolution, 03.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stohl, Michael (ed.) (1979) The Politics of Terrorism. New York and Basel: Dekker.Google Scholar
U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (1981) Patterns of International Terrorism: 1980. Springfield, VA: National Technical Information Service.Google Scholar
Watson, Francis M. (1976) Political Terrorism: The Threat and the Response. Washington-New York: Robert B. Luce.Google Scholar
Wilkinson, Paul (1974) Political Terrorism. London: Macmillan.Google Scholar
Wilkinson, P. (1977) Terrorism and the Liberal State. New York: Macmillan.Google Scholar
Wilkinson, P. (1986) ‘Trends in International Terrorism and the American Response’. In: Royal Institute of International Affairs (ed.), Terrorism and International Order. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.Google Scholar