Chapter 6: Terrorism by Dissidents

Test Bank

Multiple Choice

1. ______ refers to the threat or use of political violence aimed at effecting complete revolutionary change.

a. Sub-revolutionary terrorism

b. Revolutionary terrorism

c. Establishment terrorism

d. Separatist terrorism

Learning Objective: 6-1: Understand and explain the dissident terrorism paradigm.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Perspectives on Violence Dissent

Difficulty Level: Easy

2. The conflict between Palestinian nationalists and Israel ______.

a. was resolved with the end of the Cold War

b. was resolved during several phases of negotiations

c. has continued since the founding of the state of Israel

d. both “was resolved with the end of the Cold War” and “was resolved during several phases of negotiations”

Learning Objective: 6-2: Interpret some incidents of dissident-initiated political violence as anti-state terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Intensities of Conflict: Antistate Terrorist Environments

Difficulty Level: Easy

3. ______ refers to the belief that only scientific truth could end ignorance.

a. Nihilism

b. Marxism

c. Nationalist

d. Sectarian

Learning Objective: 6-1: Understand and explain the dissident terrorism paradigm.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Nihilist Dissident Terrorism: Revolution for the Sake of Revolution

Difficulty Level: Easy

4. As defined in the discussion presented in the textbook, which of the following statements best summarizes the vision of nihilist dissident terrorists?

a. Nihilists have a clear vision about the type of society they wish to establish after victory.

b. Nihilists seek to reform society slowly after victory.

c. Nihilists have no clear vision about the type of society they wish to build, they only seek to destroy the existing order.

d. None of these.

Learning Objective: 6-1: Understand and explain the dissident terrorism paradigm.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Nihilist Dissident Terrorism: Revolution for the Sake of Revolution

Difficulty Level: Medium

5. As defined in the discussion presented in the textbook, which of the following statements best summarizes the vision of revolutionary dissident terrorists?

a. Revolutionaries have a clear vision about the type of society they wish to establish after victory.

b. Revolutionaries seek to reform society slowly after victory.

c. Revolutionaries have no clear vision about the type of society they wish to build, they only seek to destroy the existing order.

d. None of these.

Learning Objective: 6-1: Understand and explain the dissident terrorism paradigm.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Revolutionary Dissident Terrorism: A Clear World Vision

Difficulty Level: Medium

6. Which of the following statements most accurately describes the new dissident terrorist morality?

a. Dissident terrorists engage in “surgical” attacks in order to civilian casualties and damage.

b. Dissident terrorists conscientiously attempt to avoid negative publicity.

c. Dissident terrorists deliberately attempt to maximize civilian casualties and damage.

d. Both “dissident terrorists engage in ‘surgical’ attacks in order to civilian casualties and damage” and “dissident terrorists conscientiously attempt to avoid negative publicity”.

Learning Objective: 6-4: Discuss central operational attributes of the New Terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: The Appeal of Asymmetrical Conflict

Difficulty Level: Medium

7. Which of the following refers to the threat or use of political violence aimed at effecting various changes in a particular political system (but not aimed at abolishing it)?

a. separatist terrorism

b. revolutionary terrorism

c. sub-revolutionary terrorism

d. establishment terrorism

Learning Objective: 6-1: Understand and explain the dissident terrorism paradigm.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Perspectives on Violence Dissent

Difficulty Level: Medium

8. Communal terrorism refers to ______.

a. significant degrees of violence between population groups

b. group against group terrorism

c. communist-inspired terrorism

d. uprisings by communities against government oppression

Learning Objective: 6-3: Interpret some incidents of dissident-initiated political violence as anti-state terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Communal Terrorism

Difficulty Level: Easy

9. Which of the following is an example of a modern nihilist dissident terrorist group?

a. Red Brigade

b. Basque Fatherland and Liberty

c. Tamil Tigers

d. Red Army Faction

Learning Objective: 6-1: Understand and explain the dissident terrorism paradigm.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Nihilist Dissident Terrorism: Revolution for the Sake of Revolution

Difficulty Level: Medium

10. Which of the following attributes characterize anti-state dissident terrorism?

a. nationalistic motivations

b. ideological terrorism by small movements

c. communal conflict

d. all of these

Learning Objective: 6-2: Interpret some incidents of dissident-initiated political violence as anti-state terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Various

Difficulty Level: Medium

11. “Lone wolf” acts of political violence refer to ______.

a. eco-terrorism by groups like the Earth Liberation Front

b. terrorism carried out by members and agents of established terrorist organizations

c. terrorism that is useful for intimidating neutral and undecided individuals

d. terrorism carried out by an individual person

Learning Objective: 6-4: Discuss central operational attributes of the New Terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Terrorist Cells and Lone Wolves: New Models for a New War

Difficulty Level: Easy

12. Which of the following involved conflict between populations that have distinct histories, customs, ethnic traits, and religious traditions?

a. ethno-nationalist communal terrorism

b. revolutionary terrorism

c. nihilist terrorism

d. nationalist terrorism

Learning Objective: 6-3: Interpret some incidents of dissident-initiated political violence as communal terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Ethno-Nationalist Communal Terrorism

Difficulty Level: Medium

13. Which of the following reflected the global rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union?

a. ethno-nationalist communal terrorism

b. ideological communal terrorism

c. religious communal terrorism

d. revolutionary dissident terrorism

Learning Objective: 6-3: Interpret some incidents of dissident-initiated political violence as communal terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Ideological Communal Terrorism

Difficulty Level: Medium

14. Revolutionary nationalists often argue that terrorist violence may be acceptable and necessary because

a. They are cold-blooded killers.

b. They are freedom fighters, so the end justifies the means.

c. They consider it to be a legitimate military and political tactic to use against militarily stronger adversaries.

d. Both “they are cold-blooded killers” and “they are freedom fighters, so the end justifies the means”.

Learning Objective: 6-1: Understand and explain the dissident terrorism paradigm.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Terrorism by Dissidents

Difficulty Level: Easy

15. Chlorine gas is an example of a ______.

a. chemical agent

b. biological agent

c. nuclear weapon

d. radiological agent

Learning Objective: 6-4: Discuss central operational attributes of New Terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Chemical Agents

Difficulty Level: Easy

16. Leaders of nationalist and other insurgent movements, such as Yasir Arafat, are often vilified as terrorists by their opponents but defended by their supporters because ______.

a. from the perspective of their opponents, they are insane killers

b. from the perspective of their supporters, they are liberators and freedom fighters

c. from the perspective of their opponents, they are fundamentally marginal politically

d. from the perspective of their supporters, they are godlike

Learning Objective: 6-2: Interpret some incidents of dissident-initiated political violence as anti-state terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Intensities of Conflict: Antistate Terrorist Environments

Difficulty Level: Easy

17. A dirty bomb is an example of a ______.

a. chemical agent

b. nuclear weapon

c. biological agent

d. radiological agent

Learning Objective: 6-4: Discuss central operational attributes of the New Terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Radiological Agents

Difficulty Level: Easy

18. Which of the following statements regarding the New Terrorism is most accurate?

a. The New Terrorism represents an era in which the morality of terrorist violence is undeveloped.

b. The New Terrorism represents an era in which the morality of terrorist violence allows for few limitations on extremist behavior.

c. The New Terrorism represents an era in which the morality of terrorist violence places strict limitations on extremist behavior.

d. None of these.

Learning Objective: 6-4: Discuss central operational attributes of the New Terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Dissidents and the New Terrorism

Difficulty Level: Medium

19. Which of the following movements was among the first to routinely use suicide bombers?

a. the Tupamaros

b. the Red Army Faction

c. the Red Brigade

d. the Tamil Tigers

Learning Objective: 6-4: Discuss central operational attributes of the New Terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Case: Suicide Bombers and the New Dissident Terrorist Morality

Difficulty Level: Medium

20. Organisms or other contagious substances that are manufactured in order to spread disease or cause death are referred to as ______.

a. biological agents

b. chemical agents

c. nuclear weapons

d. radiological agents

Learning Objective: 6-4: Discuss central operational attributes of the New Terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Biological Agents

Difficulty Level: Easy

True/False

1. Antistate terrorism is directed against specific governments or interests.

Learning Objective: 6-2: Interpret some incidents of dissident-initiated political violence as anti-state terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Intensities of Conflict: Antistate Terrorist Environments

Difficulty Level: Easy

2. Nihilist dissidents have a clear vision for the post-revolution society.

Learning Objective: 6-1: Understand and explain the dissident terrorism paradigm.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Nihilist Dissident Terrorism: Revolution for the Sake of Revolution

Difficulty Level: Easy

3. Palestinian resistance has taken on the characteristics of communal terrorism since 2000.

Learning Objective: 6-2: Interpret some incidents of dissident-initiated political violence as anti-state terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Intensities of Conflict: Antistate Terrorist Environments

Difficulty Level: Easy

4. The New Terrorism represents an era in which the morality of terrorist violence allows for few limitations on extremist behavior.

Learning Objective: 6-4: Discuss central operational attributes of the New Terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Dissidents and the New Terrorism

Difficulty Level: Easy

5. Communal terrorism represents a selective use of violence that is less intense than many terrorist campaigns.

Learning Objective: 6-3: Interpret some incidents of dissident-initiated political violence as communal terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Communal Terrorism

Difficulty Level: Easy

6. Communal terrorism occurs in varying degrees of intensity and in many contexts.

Learning Objective: 6-3: Interpret some incidents of dissident-initiated political violence as communal terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Communal Terrorism

Difficulty Level: Easy

7. The PLO was ultimately defeated by Israel.

Learning Objective: 6-2: Interpret some incidents of dissident-initiated political violence as anti-state terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Intensities of Conflict: Antistate Terrorism Environments

Difficulty Level: Easy

8. Sectarian violence refers to conflict between religious groups and is sometimes one element of discord in a broader conflict between ethno-national groups.

Learning Objective: 6-3: Interpret some incidents of dissident-initiated political violence as communal terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Communal Terrorism

Difficulty Level: Easy

9. The Red Brigade was a West German terrorist movement that regularly attacked German and NATO targets.

Learning Objective: 6-2: Interpret some incidents of dissident-initiated political violence as anti-state terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Intensities of Conflict: Antistate Terrorist Environments

Difficulty Level: Easy

10. The Red Army Faction’s leaders committed suicide in prison.

Learning Objective: 6-2: Interpret some incidents of dissident-initiated political violence as anti-state terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Intensities of Conflict: Antistate Terrorist Environments

Difficulty Level: Easy

11. Asymmetrical warfare involves predictable methods of engagement.

Learning Objective: 6-1: Understand and explain the dissident terrorism paradigm.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Concept: Asymmetrical Warfare

Difficulty Level: Easy

12. Accurate knowledge about the construction of bombs is difficult to obtain.

Learning Objective: 6-4: Discuss central operational attributes of the New Terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Common Explosives

Difficulty Level: Easy

13. The Internet has yet to become an effective mode of communication between terrorists.

Learning Objective: 6-4: Discuss central operational attributes of the New Terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Netwar: A New Organizational Theory

Difficulty Level: Easy

14. The threat from weapons of mass destruction is that they are easily obtained.

Learning Objective: 6-4: Discuss central operational attributes of the New Terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Case: Weapons of Mass Destruction

Difficulty Level: Easy

15. Composite-4 was a terrorist organization in the UK.

Learning Objective: 6-4: Discuss central operational attributes of the New Terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Plastic Explosives

Difficulty Level: Easy

16. The purpose of a dirty bomb is to poison water supplies.

Learning Objective: 6-4, Discuss central operational attributes of the New Terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Radiological Agents

Difficulty Level: Easy

17. Mustard gas is a blistering agent which has been historically produced in large quantities.

Learning Objective: 6-4: Discuss central operational attributes of the New Terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Chemical Agents

Difficulty Level: Easy

18. A Molotov Cocktail is a toxic poison.

Learning Objective: 6-4: Discuss central operational attributes of the New Terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Gasoline Bombs

Difficulty Level: Easy

19. Semtex is a type of plastic explosive.

Learning Objective: 6-4: Discuss central operational attributes of the New Terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Plastic Explosives

Difficulty Level: Easy

Short Answer

1. Briefly discuss the motivations behind “lone wolf” acts of political violence.

Learning Objective: 6-4: Discuss central operational attributes of the New Terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Terrorist Cells and Lone Wolves: New Models for a New Year

Difficulty Level: Easy

2. Briefly discuss one example that illustrates religious conflict.

Learning Objective: 6-3: Interpret some incidents of dissident-initiated political violence as communal terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Religious Communal Terrorism

Difficulty Level: Easy

3. Discuss why, from the perspective of revolutionary nationalists, terrorist violence may sometimes be acceptable and/or necessary.

Learning Objective: 6-1: Understand and explain the dissident terrorism paradigm.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Revolutionary Dissident Terrorism: A Clear World Vision

Difficulty Level: Medium

4. Describe the evolution in motivation and ideology within the Palestinian movement. Why did a movement like Hamas become so prominent?

Learning Objective: 6-4: Discuss central operational attributes of the New Terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Intifada-Motivated Suicide in Israel

Difficulty Level: Medium

5. In your opinion, is nihilist violence ever justifiable? Briefly explain your answer.

Learning Objective: 6-1: Understand and explain the dissident terrorism paradigm.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Nihilist Dissident Terrorism: Revolution for the Sake of Revolution

Difficulty Level: Medium

6. Briefly discuss whey Yasir Arafat and other leaders are vilified by their opponents but defended by their supporters.

Learning Objective: 6-2: Interpret some incidents of dissident-initiated political violence as anti-state terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Intensities of Conflict: Antistate Terrorist Environments

Difficulty Level: Easy

7. In your opinion, are rebels sometimes labeled too quickly as terrorists?

Learning Objective: 6-1: Understand and explain the dissident terrorism paradigm.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Terrorism by Dissidents

Difficulty Level: Easy

8. In your opinion, what is the most likely threat scenario for the use of biological weapons?

Learning Objective: 6-4: Discuss central operational attributes of the New Terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Biological Agents

Difficulty Level: Easy

9. In your opinion, what is the most likely threat scenario for the use of radiological weapons?

Learning Objective: 6-4: Discuss central operational attributes of the New Terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Radiological Agents

Difficulty Level: Easy

10. Discuss the threat from asymmetrical warfare.

Learning Objective: 6-1: Understand and explain the dissident terrorism paradigm.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Concept: Asymmetrical Warfare

Difficulty Level: Easy

11. In your opinion, what is the most likely threat scenario for the use of chemical weapons?

Learning Objective: 6-4: Discuss central operational attributes of the New Terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Chemical Agents

Difficulty Level: Easy

12. In your opinion, what is the most likely threat scenario for the use of nuclear weapons?

Learning Objective: 6-4: Discuss central operational attributes of the New Terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Nuclear Weapons

Difficulty Level: Easy

Essay

1. What are the reasons behind the rise in cell-based organizational arrangements among revolutionaries, and the decline in paramilitary arrangements? Describe the characteristics of cell-based and paramilitary arrangements.

Learning Objective: 6-4: Discuss central operational attributes of the New Terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Terrorist Cells and Lone Wolves: New Models for a New Year

Difficulty Level: Hard

2. Compare and contrast the motives of nihilist and revolutionary dissident terrorists. Why would dissidents adopt a nihilist vision rather than a revolutionary vision? In your opinion, does the logic of one make more sense than the other? Explain your answer.

Learning Objective: 6-1: Understand and explain the dissident terrorism paradigm.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Various

Difficulty Level: Medium

3. Using the case of Chechen violence against Russian interests, critique the new dissident terrorist morality. Are the Chechens fighting on behalf of a just cause? Is their war fighting methodology morally understandable under the circumstances? Explain your answer.

Learning Objective: 6-4: Discuss central operational attributes of the New Terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Dissidents and the New Terrorism

Difficulty Level: Medium

4. Discuss the factors which give rise to communal dissident terrorism. Why do population groups engage in massive degrees of violence against other groups? Is such violence ever justifiable or otherwise understandable? Explain your answer.

Learning Objective: 6-3: Interpret some incidents of dissent-initiated political violence as a communal terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Communal Terrorism

Difficulty Level: Hard

5. In your opinion, is selection of hijackings and other international violence by nationalists necessary from their perspective? Was it justifiable?

Learning Objective: 6-4: Discuss central operational attributes of the New Terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Passenger Carriers

Difficulty Level: Medium

6. In your opinion, should the international community intervene when genocidal communal terrorism occurs? Discuss circumstances when this would be a necessary policy option.

Learning Objective: 6-3: Interpret some incidents of dissent-initiated political violence as a communal terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Communal Terrorism

Difficulty Level: Medium

7. Discuss why the new terrorist morality occurred.

Learning Objective: 6-4: Discuss central operational attributes of the New Terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Dissidents and the New Terrorism

Difficulty Level: Medium

8. Why do some dissidents adopt anti-state terrorism as a strategy? What do they hope to accomplish?

Learning Objective: 6-2: Interpret some incidents of dissident-initiated political violence as anti-state terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Antistate Dissident Terrorism

Difficulty Level: Medium

9. In your opinion, what explains sectarian violence in societies which have long histories of residing together, such as Lebanon, Yugoslavia, and Northern Ireland?

Learning Objective: 6-3: Interpret some incidents of dissent-initiated political violence as a communal terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Religious Communal Terrorism

Difficulty Level: Medium

10. Discuss the feasibility of obtaining weapons of mass destruction by terrorists. Which weapons are more easily obtained? Which weapons are less easily obtained? How would they be obtained in the first place? Explain your answer.

Learning Objective: 6-4: Discuss central operational attributes of the New Terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Weapons Old and New

Difficulty Level: Hard

11. The gun and the bomb are traditional terrorist weapons that still predominate in the arsenals of violent extremists. How have these weapons been wielded in the era of the New Terrorism? Explain how the threat from these traditional weapons has evolved in the modern era.

Learning Objective: 6-4: Discuss central operational attributes of the New Terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Various

Difficulty Level: Medium

12. Discuss the threat from suicide attacks. In your opinion, why did suicide attacks become a common tactic in some conflicts? What impact has the concept of martyrdom had on such attacks.

Learning Objective: 6-4: Discuss central operational attributes of the New Terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Case: Suicide Bombers and the New Dissident Terrorist Morality

Difficulty Level: Easy

13. In your opinion, what are the likely implications of the availability of information on the Internet from the perspective of extremists?

Learning Objective: 6-4: Discuss central operational attributes of the New Terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Netwar: A New Organizational Theory

Difficulty Level: Medium