‘The Capability Spectrum; Locating Terrorism in Relation to other Manifestations of Political Violence.’

Thomas Edward Alexander Whelan

doi:10.15664/jtr.1083

‘The Capability Spectrum; Locating Terrorism in Relation to other Manifestations of Political Violence.’

Authors

Thomas Edward Alexander Whelan University of St Andrews

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15664/jtr.1083

Abstract

Terrorism is often discussed in isolation from other manifestations of political violence; however, significant understanding of the phenomenon can be gained by assessing terrorism in relation to the wider context of other forms of political violence. This paper presents a model which locates terrorism in relation to acts ranging from rioting to insurgency, based on a spectrum of increasing capabilities. This spectrum suggests that the predominantly communicative acts of terrorism locate it closely to the communicative acts of political rioting; whilst at the same time, the desire of terrorist groups to militarise further links terrorism to insurgency.

Author Biography

Thomas Edward Alexander Whelan, University of St Andrews

Thomas Whelan studied at the Handa Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence at the University of St Andrews where he gained a Distinction in the MLitt in Terrorism Studies programme. As part of this degree, he spent one semester on exchange at Georgetown University, Washington DC, on their Security Studies Program, focusing on insurgency violence. His research interests focus on the relationship between terrorism and insurgency.

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Published

2016-02-05

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 1 (2016)

Section

Articles

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