Suchergebnisse

THIS ARTICLE LOOKS AT THE FUTURE OF TERRORISM AND COUNTER-TERRORISM BY EXAMINING THE PAST. FIRST, IT COMPARES THE CAPTURE IN NAIROBI, KENYA, OF ABDULLAH OCALAN, LEADER OF THE KURDISTAN WORKERS' PARTY (PKK) IN FEBRUARY 1999 WITH THE SIMILAR CAPTURE OF THE PALESTINIAN TERRORIST ABU DAOUD SOME TWO DECADES EARLIER. SECOND, IT EXAMINES TWO DISCOURSES THAT HAPPENED SOME 18 YEARS APART: ONE IN 1980 (AND THE LATE SEVENTIES) AND ONE IN 1999 (AND THE LATE NINETIES). THESE TWO COMPARISONS REVEAL MUCH ABOUT FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS OF TERRORISM. THEY ALSO MAY HELP EXPLAIN WHY CURRENT (PRIMARILY) AMERICAN DISCOURSE ON THE FUTURE OF TERRORISM MAY BE BOTH MISLEADING AS FAR AS EUROPE IS CONCERNED AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, DANGEROUS IN TERMS OF MISREPRESENTING FUTURE THREATS AND BLINDING EVERYONE TO MORE LIKELY SCENARIOS.

THIS ARTICLE EXAMINES THE KINDS OF EFFECTS THAT TELEVISION CAN HAVE ON FOUR SETS OF ACTORS COMMONLY INVOLVED IN TERRORIST CRISES OR MAJOR INCIDENTS: POLITICIANS, POLICE, THE PUBLIC AND THE PRINT MEDIA. WHILE SOME OF THESE EFFECTS CAN BE NEGATIVE, OTHERS CAN BE POSITIVE. AS A WHOLE, HOWEVER, TELEVISION TENDS TO DIMINISH THE QUALITY OF POLITICAL DISCOURSE, WITH ITS EMPHASIS ON SIMPLIFICATION AND DRAMATIZATION. IN TIMES OF CRISIS, THIS CAN HAVE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES ON DECISION-MAKERS WHO DEPEND ON AN INFORMED PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES AT STAKE AND THE LIMITS ON GOVERNMENT ACTION. THE ARTICLE ENDS BY EXAMINING BRIEFLY HOW THESE EFFECTS RELATE TO THE INCREASING ROLE OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY.

A discussion of the problem of terrorism & the media, which focuses on the interface between three central actors: the terrorists, the governments or offical authorities, & the media organizations interacting with & mediating between the other two actors. Analysis of the role of the media in covering terrorism highlights such aspects as the agenda-setting function of the media, interviewing of terrorists, & media-driven public pressure on governments. The impact (both anticipated & unanticipated) of media coverage is discussed. Four types of solutions to the problems defined are presented & analyzed in terms of effectiveness, feasiblity, & practicality: (1) media guidelines, (2) legislation & legal sanctions, (3) cooperation between media & authorities, & (4) training & education of journalists & other media personnel. 92 References. Adapted from the source document.