Leftist Terrorist Motivation

摘要

As international terrorist activities escalate and campaigns across national boundaries and borders increase, the United States is increasingly vulnerable to both internally- and externally-caused terrorist action. This study drew on existing documentation of leftist terrorists' ideological leanings and their motivations as perceived by analysts of this phenomenon. The study was limited to consideration of eight major leftist terrorist groups which operated between 1960-1978: Tupamaros, Irish Republican Army, Palestine Liberation Organization, Baader-Meinhof, Japanese Red Army, Weathermen, Black Panthers, and Symbionese Liberation Army. The philosophical influences on each group were examined as were the psychological and sociological motivations ascribed to them. Based upon the relevant data in the sources, theories were derived about the motivation of contemporary leftist terrorists; and these theories were tested as they applied to the eight groups. Several conclusions regarding contemporary leftist terrorism were formulated, and a recommendation for further behavioral study was made.