Security and Defense Studies Review 2010 Fall ... - Offnews.info

offering insight into political terrorism as it presents itself in other regions of the world.In surveying here the most visible and troubling forms of crime, violence, and political terrorismin Latin America, we assume a greatly simplified view of democratization as a transitional coursebringing about participatory processes and elections and embracing egalitarian values (howeverincompletely), though not necessarily in identical reflection of the United States. Democratizationhas at once objective features (regular elections) as well as subjective intonations (“illiberal”democracy), especially within the American political system. Placed within the context of its currentwar on terrorism, mutual and concurrent interests, and its extensive history of deliberate hemisphericinvolvement, the United States has justification for careful scrutiny and cautious but active responseto political terrorism in Latin America.Theory and CausesPolitical terrorism is the deliberate manufacture or manipulation of fear, used as a tool of coercion.It may draw attention to a person, a group, or a cause. It has been used to demand government orlegal reform and to free imprisoned comrades. It is infinitely malleable: it can be employed for agreat variety of uses by individuals or groups willing to prey upon fear to achieve their goals. Fornations afflicted, not only are lives lost and property damaged but also quality of life degrades andnational productivity decreases. Governments must also divert valuable and scarce resources fromdemocratization and development efforts to police, military, and juridical actions.In Latin America, the confluence of political terrorism, fragile democratization efforts, anddepressed economies may be contributing to the decreasing faith in democracy as the appropriate anddesirable government form. But however unfortunate, history provides evidence that the tactics andmethods of terrorism have been etched into the ethos of Latin America’s political violence. Terrorismbegets more terrorism and in some countries insinuates into the political culture. Old habits diehard. In some cases, persistent and pervasive terrorism has left governments critically weakened andvulnerable as they limp toward a state that is democratic, stable, and consolidated—an impossibilityunder such conditions. State success is jeopardized, to the detriment of the interdependent globalcommunity.The coincidence of several characteristics among nations suffering under political terrorism isstriking. For example, political terrorism in the form of kidnappings is occurring most prevalentlyin transitional societies and in societies where painful class conflict exacerbates the socioeconomiccleavages in society. Upon closer examination, the frequency of coincidence of the characteristicsdiscussed below suggests that they encourage an environment of political terrorism.The causes of political terrorism are not simple. A single act may have many explanations, ofwhich some focus on immediate demands and others on longer-range patterns. The true cause ofpolitical terrorism within democratizing nations is most accurately described through a number ofvariables based on circumstance and context. Eight causative, long-term conditions are immediatelyidentifiable: the transitional nature of these societies; intense class conflict; a distinct political cultureoften based around machismo; the perception of a zero-sum game regarding scarce resources; statefailure to deliver socioeconomic opportunities, mobility, and safety nets; the self-perpetuating trapof habit; the absence or decline of traditional restraints (e.g., religion); and rising crime and narcotrafficking.In addition, there are more immediate causes.1. Transitional Societies. Societies undergoing a transition from agrarian to industrial orindustrial to post-industrial are especially at risk for an upsurge in certain violent crimes. The samerelationship extends to political terrorism. States in transition frequently have societal conditionsconducive to extralegal means of demanding or producing political change, includingpolitical terrorism. The advancement of the development process provides an economic base and172Security and Defense Studies Review 2010 Fall-Winter Issue / Edicíón Otoño-Invierno 2010 / Edicão Outono-Inverno 2010 / Volume 11