Terrorism is a necessarily complex thing, and because of its complexity, individuals have struggled to paint a picture of the stereotypical terrorist. Terrorism, it seems, is something that has long been associated with international groups and certain ideologies. That picture of terrorism may not be accurate, though, as Borgeson and O’Connor point out in their different works.
Borgeson notes the ways in which America’s idea of international terrorism might not match up with the realities of homegrown terrorism. Over the years, people have come to associate terrorism with left-wing groups from around the world. His extensive research reveals that, more often, terrorism comes from extreme right-wing groups when that terrorism is home grown. Likewise, he analyzes various studies that show that perhaps there is a way to identify what the typical domestic terrorist looks like. While international terrorism has been perpetrated by a wide range of people with different nationalities and ideologies, domestic terrorism has mostly been perpetrated by white males with anti-government leanings.
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"On Domestic Terrorism".
The work focused extensively on one well-known ground of domestic terrorists, the Aryan Nations. The author discusses the roots of that group and the splinter groups that have come off of the primary terrorist organization. Interestingly, he discusses the ways in which this particular group has intersected with generally respected society. For instance, these groups were often organized under the flag of Christianity, and pseudo-Christian principles have guided them even in some of their most heinous acts. By focusing his attention on this particular group, the author is able to offer a broad perspective on the nature of domestic terrorism in America, and in doing so, he is able to provide a specific comparison between domestic terrorism and international terrorism as it is commonly discussed.
In The Context of American Terrorism, O’Connor deals with the difficult and uncomfortable topic of balancing the need for security with the need for systematic integrity. While America and Americans have an interest in protecting against the threat of domestic terrorism, there must be some balance in any system. With too much focus on the threats presented by terrorism, a democracy would cease to exist, as too much power would be concentrated in the hands of the government that purports to protect its people.
The author deals with some of the realities of domestic terrorism, as well. He grapples with the idea that domestic terrorism can just as harmful as international terrorism in most contexts. Though international terrorism most often gets the attention of private citizens and the media, domestic terrorism can proceed right under the noses of these two groups. According to the author, that can be a major problem because domestic terrorism can kill just as many and cause just as much fear as the international variety.
This author also deals with questions about who commits terroristic acts in the United States. He notes the history of the matter, as left-wing groups have traditionally been the ones carrying out these acts on American soil. This author does not, however, the fundamental shift that has taken place over the last few decades. Terrorism is an increasingly right-wing fad on the home front, as groups like the neo-Nazis have taken to spreading their message with a side of destruction. One of the strengths of this author’s work is his ability to provide a comprehensive look at a difficult topic. He takes many years of history and puts it into a context that individuals can understand. He deals aptly with issues like profiling, ideological motivations, and forms of prevention without becoming too dull or getting caught up too much in the details of any individual time period or group.
