Explaining left wing terrorist behaviour – the missing link between terrorist tactics and mass mobilization in anarchist and Marxist-Leninist terrorist thinking

Abstract

ABSTRACT One of the well-established claims in terrorism studies is that terrorist organizations attempt to delegitimize the state by provoking state repression. This study argues that there is little empirical evidence to support this claim while there are a number of terrorist ideologues who openly warn against the perils of provoking state repression. Starting with a survey of the classical left-wing terrorist doctrines, “propaganda by the deed” and “armed propaganda,” this study finds out that although mobilization of masses is the main strategic goal of left-wing terrorism, these doctrines are surprisingly silent about how resort to terrorist tactics will achieve that goal – hence the missing link. However, a more careful reading of the academic and terrorist literature reveals two incompatible conceptualizations of this link: that terrorist attacks are expected to provoke state repression which, by radicalizing masses, opens up the way for mobilization and recruitment (as suggested by many academics but mentioned only by two ethno-nationalist organizations and one terrorist ideologue) versus terrorist attacks are intended to demonstrate the hollowness of the already existent state repression and thereby encourage mobilization of already radicalized masses (as formulated systematically in one particular text from 1970s but generally ignored by academics).