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'''Communist terrorism''' is the term which has been used to describe acts of violence committed by groups who subscribe to a [[Marxism–Leninism|Marxist/Leninist]] or [[Maoist]] ideology. These groups hope that through these actions they will inspire the [[Common people|the masses]] to rise up and overthrow the existing political and economic system.<ref name="C. J. M. Drake 1">C. J. M. Drake page 19</ref> In recent years, there has been a marked decrease in such terrorism, which has been substantially credited to the end of the Cold War and the fall of the U.S.S.R.<ref name="David C. Wills">David C. Wills page 219</ref> However, at its apogee, communism was argued by some to be the major source of international terrorism (whether inspired by the ideology or supported by its states).<ref name="Brian Crozier">Brian Crozier page 203</ref> |
'''Communist terrorism''' is the term which has been used to describe acts of violence committed by groups who subscribe to a [[Marxism–Leninism|Marxist/Leninist]] or [[Maoist]] ideology. These groups hope that through these actions they will inspire the [[Common people|the masses]] to rise up and overthrow the existing political and economic system.<ref name="C. J. M. Drake 1">C. J. M. Drake page 19</ref> In recent years, there has been a marked decrease in such terrorism, which has been substantially credited to the end of the Cold War and the fall of the U.S.S.R.<ref name="David C. Wills">David C. Wills page 219</ref> However, at its apogee, communism was argued by some to be the major source of international terrorism (whether inspired by the ideology or supported by its states).<ref name="Brian Crozier">Brian Crozier page 203</ref> |
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==Usage of the term== |
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In the 1930`s the term was used by the [[Nazi Party]] in Germany as part of a propaganda effort to create fear of communism. The Nazi`s blamed communist terrorism for the [[Reichstag Fire]] and used this as an excuse to push through legislation which removed personal freedom from all citizens.<ref name="Conway John S.">Conway p17</ref><ref name="Gadberry, Glen W.">Gadberry p7</ref> In 1948, an anti-colonial [[guerrilla warfare|guerrilla war]] (known as "[[Malayan emergency]]") started between [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] armed forces and the [[Malayan Races Liberation Army|Malayan National Liberation Army]] . Since the insurgents were lead by the [[Malayan Communist Party]], their actions were labeled as "Communist terrorism" by British propaganda<ref>Phillip Deery. The Terminology of Terrorism: Malaya, 1948–52. ''Journal of Southeast Asia Studies'', Vol. 34, No. 2 (June 2003), pp. 231–247.</ref> to deny the partisans' political legitimacy and to locate the Malayan Emergency in a broader context of the Cold War.<ref>Anthony J. Stockwell, A widespread and long-concocted plot to overthrow government in Malaya? The origins of the Malayan Emergency. ''Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History'', 21, 3 (1993): 79-80.</ref> Later, this term has been applied by the US administration to the actions of Communist partisans during [[Vietnam war]] to affect both the domestic and South Vietnamese public opinion and to justify the actions of the US army as "counterterrorist" measures.<ref>Carol Winkler. In the name of terrorism: presidents on political violence in the post-World War II era. SUNY Press, 2006, ISBN 0791466175, 9780791466179, p.29-35. </ref> |
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In the late 1960`s in [[Europe]], [[Japan]] and in both [[North America|north]] and [[South America]] various terrorist organizations began operations. These groups, usually referred to as [[Left-wing terrorism|left-wing terrorists]],<ref name="ShughartII">William F. Shughart II. An analytical history of terrorism, 1945–2000. ''Public Choice'' (2006) 128:7–39.</ref><ref>Tim Krieger and Daniel Meierrieks, Terrorism in the Worlds of Welfare Capitalism, ''Journal of Conflict Resolution'' 2010 54: 902 </ref> "leftist terrorists",<ref>Christopher K. Robison, Edward M. Crenshaw, J. Craig Jenkins. Ideologies of Violence: The Social Origins of Islamist and Leftist Transnational Terrorism. ''Social Forces'' 84.4 (2006) 2009-2026.</ref><ref>Kevin Siqueira and Todd Sandler. Terrorists versus the Government: Strategic Interaction, Support, and Sponsorship. ''The Journal of Conflict Resolution'', Vol. 50, No. 6 (Dec., 2006), pp. 878-898</ref> "Communist terrorists", the Fighting Communist Organizations (FCO),<ref name="Alexander Yonah 1">Alexander p16</ref><ref name="Harmon, Christopher C.">Harmon p13</ref> or "Euroterrorists" (the latter term has been applied to European terrorists only),<ref name="Harmon, Christopher C. 2">Harmon p58</ref> rose out of the [[Protests of 1968|student union movement]] which was at that time protesting against the [[Vietnam War]].<ref>Cronin, Audrey. Behind the Curve Globalization and International Terrorism. ''International Security'', Volume 27, Number 3, Winter 2002/03, pp. 30-58</ref><ref name="Chalk">Peter Chalk. The Response to Terrorism as a Threat to Liberal Democracy. ''Australian Journal of Politics and History'': Volume 44, Number 3, 1998, pp. 373-88.</ref> As a rule, these groups were committed to the radical New Left ideologies<ref name="Chalk"/> and their strategic goals were poorly articulated.<ref name="Chalk"/> The founders of some of these organisations, e.g. [[Red Brigades]], were ex-Communists who were expelled from their parent parties for extremism.<ref>A Jamieson. Identity and morality in the Italian Red Brigades. Terrorism and Political Violence, 1990, p. 508-15</ref>{{POV-statement|date=March 2011}} Some national-separatist terrorist movements, such as [[ETA]] or [[IRA]] also used Marxist rhetoric initially.<ref>Cristopher Fettweis argued: "The IRA may have employed Marxist ideological rhetoric during the 1960s, for instance, but it is absurd to suggest that it (or any of its more-radical off-shoots, like the Irish National Liberation Army) was first and foremost a Marxist group." (Cristopher Fettweis. Freedom Fighters and Zealots: Al Qaeda in Historical Perspective. ''Political Science Quarterly''; Summer2009, Vol. 124 Issue 2, p 269-296.)</ref> In the 1970`s there were an estimated 50 such groups operating in [[Turkey]] and an estimated 225 in Italy.{{cn|date=March 2011}} Groups also began operations in [[Ireland]] and [[Great Britain]].<ref name="Alexander Yonah 2">Alexander pp51-52</ref> These groups were seen as a major threat by [[NATO]] and also by the Italian, German and British governments;<ref name="Paoletti, Ciro">Paoletti p202</ref> they were also condemned by parliamentary Communist parties.<ref>Richard Drake. Terrorism and the Decline of Italian Communism: Domestic and International Dimensions. ''Journal of Cold War Studies'', Volume 12, Number 2, Spring 2010 1531-3298</ref> |
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==Communist Terrorism in the Vietnam War== |
==Communist Terrorism in the Vietnam War== |
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In the 1950`s communist terrorism was rife in [[South Vietnam]] with political leaders, provincial chiefs, teachers, nurses, doctors and members of the military being targeted. Between 1965 and 1972 terrorists had killed over thirty three thousand people and abducted a further fifty seven thousand. |
In the 1950`s communist terrorism was rife in [[South Vietnam]] with political leaders, provincial chiefs, teachers, nurses, doctors and members of the military being targeted. Between 1965 and 1972 terrorists had killed over thirty three thousand people and abducted a further fifty seven thousand. |
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<ref name="Carol Winkler">Carol Winkler page 17</ref> In [[Saigon]] terrorist actions have been described as "long and murderous" The firing of automatic weapons, planting bombs and throwing grenades were the tactics used. The prime minister of the time [[Tran Van Huong]] was shot in an attempted assassination. <ref name="Nghia M. Vo 1">Nghia M. Vo pages 28/29</ref> |
<ref name="Carol Winkler">Carol Winkler page 17</ref><ref name="Forest, James J. F.">Forest p82</ref> In [[Saigon]] terrorist actions have been described as "long and murderous" The firing of automatic weapons, planting bombs and throwing grenades were the tactics used. The prime minister of the time [[Tran Van Huong]] was shot in an attempted assassination. <ref name="Nghia M. Vo 1">Nghia M. Vo pages 28/29</ref> |
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[[Image:Infant_victim_of_Dak_Son_massacre.jpg|right|thumbnail|100px|Infant victim of Dak Son massacre]]The [[Massacre at Huế]] has been described as one of the worst communist terrorist actions during the [[Vietnam War]]. <ref name="Michael Lee Lanning 1">Michael Lee Lanning page 185</ref> with some estimates saying up to 5000 dead. <ref name="T. Louise Brown">T. Louise Brown page 163</ref> The United States Army recorded as killed, "3800 killed in and around Huế, 2786 confirmed civilians massacred, 2226 civilians found in mass graves and 16 non Vietnamese civilians killed. <ref name="Charles A. Krohn">Charles A. Krohn page 126</ref> Some apologists have claimed the majority of deaths were caused by US bombing in the fight to retake the city, however the vast majority of dead were found in [[Mass grave|Mass Graves]] outside the city.<ref name="T. Louise Brown">T. Louise Brown page 163</ref> |
[[Image:Infant_victim_of_Dak_Son_massacre.jpg|right|thumbnail|100px|Infant victim of Dak Son massacre]]The [[Massacre at Huế]] has been described as one of the worst communist terrorist actions during the [[Vietnam War]]. <ref name="Michael Lee Lanning 1">Michael Lee Lanning page 185</ref> with some estimates saying up to 5000 dead. <ref name="T. Louise Brown">T. Louise Brown page 163</ref> The United States Army recorded as killed, "3800 killed in and around Huế, 2786 confirmed civilians massacred, 2226 civilians found in mass graves and 16 non Vietnamese civilians killed. <ref name="Charles A. Krohn">Charles A. Krohn page 126</ref> Some apologists have claimed the majority of deaths were caused by US bombing in the fight to retake the city, however the vast majority of dead were found in [[Mass grave|Mass Graves]] outside the city.<ref name="T. Louise Brown">T. Louise Brown page 163</ref> |
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* Paoletti, Ciro (30 December 2007). A military history of Italy. Praeger Publishers. ISBN 978-0275985059. |
* Paoletti, Ciro (30 December 2007). A military history of Italy. Praeger Publishers. ISBN 978-0275985059. |
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* Harmon, Christopher C. ''Terrorism Today'' Routledge 2nd edition. 18 Octtober 2007. ISBN 978-0415773003 |
* Harmon, Christopher C. ''Terrorism Today'' Routledge 2nd edition. 18 Octtober 2007. ISBN 978-0415773003 |
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*Carol Winkler. ''In the name of terrorism: presidents on political violence in the post-World.'' [[ State University of New York Press]] Illustrated edition. 3 November 2005. ISBN 978-0791466179 |
* Carol Winkler. ''In the name of terrorism: presidents on political violence in the post-World.'' [[ State University of New York Press]] Illustrated edition. 3 November 2005. ISBN 978-0791466179 |
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*Nghia M. Vo. ''The bamboo gulag: political imprisonment in communist Vietnam.'' [[McFarland & Company]] 31 December 2003. ISBN 978-0786417148 |
* Nghia M. Vo. ''The bamboo gulag: political imprisonment in communist Vietnam.'' [[McFarland & Company]] 31 December 2003. ISBN 978-0786417148 |
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*[[Michael Lee Lanning]], [[Dan Cragg]]. ''Inside the VC and the NVA: the real story of North Vietnam's armed forces.'' 1st edition. [[Texas A & M University Press]] 15 August 2008. ISBN 978-1603440592 |
* [[Michael Lee Lanning]], [[Dan Cragg]]. ''Inside the VC and the NVA: the real story of North Vietnam's armed forces.'' 1st edition. [[Texas A & M University Press]] 15 August 2008. ISBN 978-1603440592 |
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*T. Louise Brown, ''War and aftermath in Vietnam.'' Routledge. 2 May 1991. ISBN 978-0415014038 |
* T. Louise Brown, ''War and aftermath in Vietnam.'' Routledge. 2 May 1991. ISBN 978-0415014038 |
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*Bernadette Rigal-Cellard. ''La guerre du Vietnam et la société américaine.'' Presses universitaires de Bordeaux. 1991. ISBN 978-2867811227 |
* Bernadette Rigal-Cellard. ''La guerre du Vietnam et la société américaine.'' Presses universitaires de Bordeaux. 1991. ISBN 978-2867811227 |
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* Forest, James J. F. ''Countering Terrorism and Insurgency in the 21st Century'' Praeger 6/30/2007 ISBN 978-0-275-99034-3 |
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== Further reading == |
== Further reading == |
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Revision as of 23:51, 17 March 2011
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Communist terrorism is the term which has been used to describe acts of violence committed by groups who subscribe to a Marxist/Leninist or Maoist ideology. These groups hope that through these actions they will inspire the the masses to rise up and overthrow the existing political and economic system.[1] In recent years, there has been a marked decrease in such terrorism, which has been substantially credited to the end of the Cold War and the fall of the U.S.S.R.[2] However, at its apogee, communism was argued by some to be the major source of international terrorism (whether inspired by the ideology or supported by its states).[3]
Communist Terrorism in the Vietnam War
In the 1950`s communist terrorism was rife in South Vietnam with political leaders, provincial chiefs, teachers, nurses, doctors and members of the military being targeted. Between 1965 and 1972 terrorists had killed over thirty three thousand people and abducted a further fifty seven thousand. [4][5] In Saigon terrorist actions have been described as "long and murderous" The firing of automatic weapons, planting bombs and throwing grenades were the tactics used. The prime minister of the time Tran Van Huong was shot in an attempted assassination. [6]
The Massacre at Huế has been described as one of the worst communist terrorist actions during the Vietnam War. [7] with some estimates saying up to 5000 dead. [8] The United States Army recorded as killed, "3800 killed in and around Huế, 2786 confirmed civilians massacred, 2226 civilians found in mass graves and 16 non Vietnamese civilians killed. [9] Some apologists have claimed the majority of deaths were caused by US bombing in the fight to retake the city, however the vast majority of dead were found in Mass Graves outside the city.[8]
Historian Douglas Pike has also described as a terrorist act the Dak Son Massacre. On December 6 1967 the Viet Cong used Flame throwers on civilians in the village of Dak Son killing 252 with the majority of those burnt alive being women and children.[10] In May, 1967 Dr. Tran Van-Luy informed the World Health Organisation "that over the previous 10 years Communist terrorists had destroyed 174 dispensaries, maternity homes and hospitals"[11]
See also
References
Bibliography
- C. J. M. Drake. Terrorists' target selection. Palgrave Macmillan. 5 February 2003. ISBN 978-0312211974
- David C. Wills. The First War on Terrorism: Counter-terrorism Policy During the Reagan Administration. Rowman & Littlefield 28 August 2003. ISBN 978-0742531291
- Brian Crozier. Political victory: the elusive prize of military wars. Transaction Publishers 31 May 2005. ISBN 978-0765802903
- Conway John S.The Nazi Persecution of the Churches, 1933-1945 Regent College Publishing. 1 April 2001. ISBN 978-1573830805
- Gadberry, Glen W. Theatre in the Third Reich, the prewar years: essays on theatre in Nazi Germany Greenwood. 30 March 1995. ISBN 978-0313295164
- Weinberg, Leonard. Political parties and terrorist groups. 2nd Revised Edition. 6 November 2008. Routledge. ISBN 978-0415775366
- Enders Walter. Sandler Todd. The political economy of terrorism November 14 2005. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0521851008
- Alexander Yonah. Europe's red terrorists: the fighting communist organizations. October 1, 1992. Routledge. ISBN 978-0714634883
- Paoletti, Ciro (30 December 2007). A military history of Italy. Praeger Publishers. ISBN 978-0275985059.
- Harmon, Christopher C. Terrorism Today Routledge 2nd edition. 18 Octtober 2007. ISBN 978-0415773003
- Carol Winkler. In the name of terrorism: presidents on political violence in the post-World. State University of New York Press Illustrated edition. 3 November 2005. ISBN 978-0791466179
- Nghia M. Vo. The bamboo gulag: political imprisonment in communist Vietnam. McFarland & Company 31 December 2003. ISBN 978-0786417148
- Michael Lee Lanning, Dan Cragg. Inside the VC and the NVA: the real story of North Vietnam's armed forces. 1st edition. Texas A & M University Press 15 August 2008. ISBN 978-1603440592
- T. Louise Brown, War and aftermath in Vietnam. Routledge. 2 May 1991. ISBN 978-0415014038
- Bernadette Rigal-Cellard. La guerre du Vietnam et la société américaine. Presses universitaires de Bordeaux. 1991. ISBN 978-2867811227
- Forest, James J. F. Countering Terrorism and Insurgency in the 21st Century Praeger 6/30/2007 ISBN 978-0-275-99034-3
Further reading
- Deletant, Dennis (1999) Communist Terror in Romania, C. Hurst & Co, ISBN 1850653860
- Adelman, Jonathan (1984) Terror and Communist Politics: The Role of the Secret Police in Communist States, Westview Press, ISBN 0865312931
- Evgeni Genchev (2003) Tales from the Dark: Testimonies about the Communist Terror, ACET 2003, ISBN 9549320014