Image in Politics

Task1:

Who is the leader of tour country? What kind of an image does he/she have? Do you like it?

Task 2:

“Image” is the key word in this unit. Learn ore about it: read the definition of the word, see the synonyms and translate the collocations into Russian. Use as many of them as you can in the sentences of your own.

Image – the image of a person, group or organization is the way that they appear to other people.

Synonyms: likeness; similitude; symbol; resemblance; embodiment.

Collocations:

Positive image project an image

Negative image promote an image

Tarnished image aim for an image

Clean –cut image go for an image

Wholesome image change image

Macho image clean up the image

Hackneyed image improve an image

Media image polish the image

Public image revive the image

Screen image keep up to the image

Create an image live up to the image

Present an image

Task 3:

Read the two texts and answer the questions that follow:

How Important Is a Politician’s Image?

The first image you give about yourself could affect a lot the way people will deal with you. You might be welcomed by them and given their support or rejected.

Thus, the first image is a very important factor of success. If you are going to meet people in all social activity, have an interview for a job, or run for president, your first image that you give right away will play a vital role in the results.

Therefore, many politicians who want to be elected try to create good images about themselves a long time before they run the elections. Some of them hire experts and consultants, and of course, that means paying a lot of money to be taught how to behave during a TV interviews, press conference, or other social activity to enhance their personal images.

Those experts believe that a good or bad image create good or bad judgments about a person. Therefore, they even teach the candidate the way to wear his clothes, the way to talk to others, depending on the occasion or the level of the audience, and even the kind of perfume to use.

An expert says to his candidate, “To get elected, you have to pay attention even to the way you walk in front of TV cameras. You must appear on the TV with the image of yourself manipulated. ”These experts even teach the candidates how to smile in front of cameras.

Finally, the question that remains unanswered is, “Is the good image of the candidate worth spending so much money?”

(Topics online Magazine)

1) How important is the first image?

2) How do politicians try to create good image?

3) What do the experts do to create a good image of a politician?

4) Which is the final question that needs to be answered?

5) How would you answer it?

Politicians Work Hard to Create Their Images

A good image is very important for a political candidate to get elected. Nowadays, it is more important than ever. We usually make judgments about a person according to the way that he or she dresses, behaves, and expresses his or her opinions.

Knowing this, candidates try to manipulate the electorate and show an image of them as if they really had that image. In order to get the vote, they do whatever they can to enhance their personal image.

They don’t think it would be better being natural. They try to present themselves as a perfect and idealized candidate.

Moreover, in many cases they hire experts on image to help them. The experts create for them an image that will be appreciated by a significant part of electorate. For each different area of the city, state, or country, the candidate acts in an appropriate and specific way.

The objective is to please the highest number possible of people. Therefore, to get elected, the candidate will act in the most suitable way to convince the people that he/she is the best option.

However, there are people who don’t believe in those created images. Usually, they have second thoughts about everything that is being said. They assess each candidate carefully in order to make the best choice.

(Sandy and Thomas Peters. Topics Online Magazine)

1) How do candidates manipulate the electorate?

2) What is the objective that the candidate has?

3) What does he/she do to get elected?

4) Do all people believe in the created images?

5) How do those who don’t feel?

Task4:

Render the text in English

Удачный имидж политика

Построение удачного имиджа политического лидера главным образом зависит от следующих условий: от знания и понимания настроений, требований. Установок своих будущих или настоящих последователей и умения показать. Что политик – именно тот. Кто полностью отвечает потребностям публики. Одна из самых действенных стратегий для завоевания доверия публики – показать политику, что он похож на них, что у него одинаковые с ними заботы и проблемы, что он – «один из них». Чрезмерная оригинальность в сфере политики при формулировании программ, построении имиджа политического лидера и т.п. недопустима, она лишь оттолкнёт большую часть людей от политика.

Чтобы победить, кандидату требуется знание одной из основных заповедей маркетинга: »Конкурентоспособный товар должен быть таким же, как все, но чуть-чуть лучше». Построение имиджа популярного лидера требует не только учитывать требования момента и действовать по ситуации, политик всегда должен демонстрировать некоторые черты и качества характера, которые в сознании публики однозначно связаны с «лидерскими качествами». Не всегда важно обладать этими качествами на самом деле, но всегда важно выглядеть деятельным, решительным, справедливым и заботливым к тем, кто признаёт его лидерство, беспощадным к врагам, преодолевающим все препятствия, выходящим победителем из любой ситуации и всегда ощущать себя правым и т.д. Большинство этих качеств успешно конструируются с помощью слов.

Если политик, только начинает свою карьеру, ему легко построить такой имидж, какой он сочтёт нужным. Если же это уже известный политик, то радикально изменить его имидж – дело довольно сложное. Однако, если такая необходимость всё же возникла, главная задача – сформировать новые ассоциации между уже известными и закрепившимися в сознании публики чертами имиджа и новыми задачами. Цель – не переубедить аудиторию, что он обладает совсем другими качествами, не теми до сих пор приписывали, а доказать. Что именно эти его качества больше всего соответствуют требованиям момента.

Политику полезно владеть ораторским искусством, позволяющим без затруднения общаться с людьми. Иметь при этом поставленный голос, управлять мимикой и жестами. Ему нужны энергия и работоспособность, поэтому внимание СМИ и большинства людей к состоянию здоровья политического лидера – не простое любопытство: лидер должен уметь шутить, импровизировать, быть обаятельным и иметь какие-то особые качества, увлечения или даже маленькие слабости, делающие его близким и понятным миллионам сограждан. Билл Клинтон, например, вошёл в свою победоносную избирательную компанию с саксофоном в руках, молодёжным стилем одежды и поведения; Лионель Жоспен привлёк симпатии профессорской интеллигентностью, афористичностью высказываний.

Несостоятельно мнение о том, что имидж политика можно сформировать и разрекламировать за короткий отрезок официальной избирательной компании: имидж обычно складывается годами. Вот почему имиджмейкеры должны работать с политиками постоянно, систематически анализируя их слова и поступки, организуя для них тренинги.

Немаловажен для политика и сексуальный аспект. Впервые об этом заговорили в ходе компании Джона Кеннеди. «Половой инстинкт – важный компонент политики,- писал тогда один из менеджеров Кеннеди.- Если ваш кандидат – красивый мужчина, то все женщины повалят голосовать за него, таща за собой упирающихся мужей».

Создатели имиджей одним из этапов своей работы называют также подбор адекватного типажа ( например, «хитрый лис»,» отец солдатам», и т.п.) Облегченный образ, заключённый в рамках типа, легче воспринимается, понятнее, гармоничнее.

В политической литературе существует несколько типологий имиджей. Одну из них предлагает Р.Шварценберг. Его галерея образов политиков повторяет набор классических театральных амплуа.

«Спаситель Отечества». Театральный аналог – герой, « бог из машины ». Этот персонаж вступает на сцену политического театра в самые сложные и ответственные моменты; он овеян славой и легендами.

«Отец нации». Театральный аналог-благородный отец. Речь идёт об авторитетном лидере, царе-батюшке, который строг, но справедлив с подданными.

«Обаятельный лидер». Театральный аналог – первый любовник. Он улыбчив и раскован, пытается не столько убедить в правоте своих идей, сколько просто понравится.

«Свойский мужик». Театральный аналог – простак. Ничем не примечательный человек, волею судьбы оказавшейся среди обитателей политического Олимпа.

Героические лидеры приходят и уходят вместе с эпохой, их породившей. На Западе политиками такого толка были герои второй мировой войны Д.Эйзенхауэр и Ш. де Голль. С 1960х гг. в западной политике стали доминировать «обаятельные лидеры» - Кеннеди, Клинтон, Жоспен. Время от времени их теснят «свойские мужики» - Картер, Мейджор. Постепенно сходят со сцены и «отцы нации» - Миттеран, Рейган, Тэтчер.

Российская политическая история и современность являют нам образцы практически всех перечисленных имиджей. Однако то, что хорошо для Запада, негодно для России. Ситуация, в которой почти половина населения чувствует себя обездоленными сиротами, чужими на этом «празднике жизни», порождает потребность в заботливом «отце», который обо всех позаботиться, никого не обойдя лаской и щедротами. Активнее всех патериалистический имидж разрабатывался Б.Ельциным, начинавшим прямым и бесхитростным правдолюбцем.

Трудно приживается на российской почве тип « обаятельного политика». Попытавшийся стать таковым М. Горбачёв вряд ли имеет серьёзные шансы для возвращения в политику.

Начиная формировать имидж кандидата, менеджер должен, первым делом, оценить его имя и фамилию, зачастую это единственное, что будет знать избиратель о кандидате. К сожалению, бывают фамилии почти «непроходимые» - Дыркин, Селёдкин, Дулькин, Намного предпочтительнее шансы тех, кто носит фамилии, ассоциирующиеся с представлениями о славном прошлом России – Пушкиных, Суворовых, Менделеевых. Если фамилия кандидата чересчур проста, хорошо обыграть ее - «на Ивановых Россия держится». Внешний вид кандидата имеет большое значение – он должен быть опрятен: желательно, чтобы были в порядке волосы, зубы, кожа лица. Однако идти ради имиджа на радикальные меры не стоит, например, красить волосы пожилому человеку, исправлять форму ушных раковин и т.п. Важной составляющей являются произношение, дикция, культура речи – вот над этим работать можно и нужно: косноязычие политика – та традиция, с которой нужно быстрее расставаться. Сложнее обстоит дело с тембром голоса, резкие и пронзительные голоса ещё никого не украшали. Впрочем, неприятный голос Тэтчер её карьере не помешал.

Однако не всякому политику можно запросто посоветовать изменить причёску, отказаться от вредных привычек, обновить гардероб. Если политик чересчур прислушивается к мнению имиджмейкера, это может свидетельствовать о его неуверенности в себе. Зазор между реальной личностью и политическим имиджем должен быть минимальным. Долго играть чужую роль нельзя. А быть раскованным и обаятельным можно, только чувствуя себя в своей тарелке. Работая с кандидатом, надо следовать примеру английских садоводов-декораторов: создавая парк, они не уничтожают всю дикорастущую зелень. А лишь поправляют её, оставляя в неприкосновенности волшебное естество природы.

Термин «избирательные технологии» обозначает действия, направленные на достижения результата на выборах или различных голосованиях. Однако избирательные технологии не исчерпываются невинными агитационными мероприятиями во время проведения предвыборной кампании. Манипуляция общественным мнением и «чёрный PR» считается бичом демократии. Но здесь соблюдается какая-то видимость собственного выбора, к тому, же чаще всего большая часть подобных действий не противоречит законодательству.

Использование компромата может дать и обратную реакцию электората, вызвать желание защитить, если «наших бьют». Если взглянуть чуть глубже: то, что происходит в российской политике,- опыт ещё и для нас. Возможно, многое происходило бы совершенно иначе, если бы мы всего, лишь лучше понимали происходящее.

Task 4:

Put ten comprehension questions on the text and ask them peers.

Task 5:

Give an English translation of the text « Другое мнение». Agree and disagree with what the author says. Prove your point.

Другое мнение

Станислав Белковский, директор института национальной стратегии: Петру I и Сталину имиджмейкеры были не нужны.

Кардинальная ошибка наших политиков: они не понимают, что имидж – это лишь приложение к существу политика, его идеологии, философии, его личности. А не наоборот. Не имея никакой идеологии, не располагая политической философией , не будучи политиками по существу, они хотят с помощью политических технологий. Стать лидерами и вождями. Никому в истории это не удавалось. Наоборот, Александр Македонский, Наполеон, ПетрI,Муссолини, Гитлер, Сталин стали сильнейшими вождями без помощи имиджмейкеров. Содержание должно быть на первом месте, акценты и детали – на втором.

Task 6:

Presentation: What kind of image should Russian women politician stick to?

Questions to be answered:

1) Do you consider Russia to be a country for male politicians?

2) What kind should a woman be to become a successful politician?

3) Why are many men striving to join the big politics?

4) Describe the images of Irina Hakamada, Valentina Matveenko and other women politicians.

Task 7:

Discussion points

1) Is the image one projects only important in public life, or is it important in our relationships with friends and families as well?

2) Do we give too much importance to people’s image?

3) Is it morally right that a politician should get more votes simply by appearing less tough or aggressive through training his or her voice and changing hairstyles?

4) Can one succeed – socially or politically – if one has not got the “right” image?

5) Is there anyone you know and like despite a public image that you found unpleasant?

Task 8:

You may find the quiz enjoyable. Do you agree with the result you got?

Тест для начинающего «слуги народа»

Подсчитайте очки и узнайте, сможете ли вы стать любимцем электората.

Гардероб для выхода в народ

Свитер -5 очков

Строгий костюм – 4 очка

Треники – 1 очко

Цвет рубашки и галстуков

Белая рубашка и чёрный галстук – 3 очка

Чёрная рубашка, светлый галстук -1 очко

Голубая рубашка, яркий галстук – 4 очка

Отношение к народу

Свой парень – 4 очка

Деловой человек – 3 очка

Барин – 1 очко

Речь

Правильно поставленная – 3очка

Чувство юмора- 5 очков

Обида на шутки о себе - 1 очко

Отношение к женщинам

Герой-любовник -4 очка

Подкаблучник – 3 очка

Женоненавистник – 2 очка

Детские комплексы

Любимый ребёнок- 4 очка

Отвергнутый ребёнок – 2 очка

Сирота-3 очка

Машина

Иномарка -3очка

Российское производство – 2 очка

Пешком – 4 очка(за оригинальность)

Запахи

Хлеб – 5 очков

Цитрусовые -4 очка

Виски – 2 очка

Сладости -1 очко

Итог

30-35:у вас есть шанс стать президентом

15-29очков: добьётесь успеха, но не выше уровня рядового депутата

До 15 очков: вершина вашей карьеры – начальник ЖЭКа.

Debates

Make a speech and take part in the debates:

“The image of a Politician is the Most Important Thing for success.”

Give arguments and/ or counter-arguments

Unit XV.

Globalization

Task 1:

Read the interview and look up the meaning of unknown words and phrases in the dictionary

Kofi Annan of Ghana is the seventh person to hold the post of U.N. Secretary General since 1946. Yet he was the first secretary general ever to be elected from the ranks of the United Nations staff. Prior to his appointment, he served as Assistant Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations. Mr. Annan lays out his thoughts on the importance –and limitations –of globalization.

What is your view on globalization?

“It has been said that arguing against globalization is like arguing against the laws of gravity.”

How critical is the role of governments?

“We cannot wait for governments to do it all. Globalization operates on Internet time. Governments tend to be slow moving by nature, because they have to build political support for every step.”

How important are global markets?

“Open markets offer the only realistic hope of pulling billions of people in developing countries out of poverty, while keeping prosperity in the industrialized world.”

What are the limits of the global market?

“We must ensure that the global market is based on broadly shared values and practices that reflect global social needs, and that all the world’s people share the benefits of globalization.”

How can one make the global market more attractive?

“We have to choose between a global market driven only by calculations of short –term- profit, and one which has a human face.”

What needs to happen to make the global village a reality?

“Business, labor and civil organizations have skills and resources that are vital in helping to build a more robust global community.”

How strong is the global economy?

“Globalization is a fact of life. But I believe we have underestimated its fragility.”

How important are women in bringing about global change?

“There is no development strategy more beneficial to society as a whole – women and men alike- than the one which involves women as central players.”

“More countries have understood that women’s equality is a prerequisite for development.”

Where do you see the primary role of the U.N.?

“If the United nations does not attempt to chart a course for the world’s people in the first decades of the new millennium, who will?”

What is the major challenge for the UN?

“We have the means and capacity to deal with our problems, if only we can find the political will.”

(On the UN’s goal of cutting the level of global poverty in half by 2015)

Task 2:

Give English equivalents of the following words and phrases:

Благосостояние; политическая воля; краткосрочная выгода; общие ценности; занимать пост; недооценивать; выгодный; обязательное условие; изложить мысли; медленно действующий; равенство; жизненно важный; вытащить из нищеты; средства и силы; хрупкость; решать проблемы; десятилетие; законы земного тяготения; по природе.

Task 3:

Complete the following statements using the active vocabulary/

1) We have to choose between global markets only by……

2) Arguing against globalization is like arguing….

3) We have the means and capacity…….

4) Women’s equality is………

5) Governments tend to be slow moving…….

6) Open markets offer the only realistic hope of…….

7) We shouldn’t underestimate……

Task 4:

Give your answers to the questions that Mr. Annan was asked.

Task 5:

Questions for discussion.

1) What are shared values? What shared values can you think of?

2) What to your mind did Mr. Annan mean by “a global market which has human face”?

3) What skills and resources do you consider vital “in helping to build a more robust global community”?

4) Why do you think Mr. Annan is worried that the frugality of the global world is being underestimated?

5) Can the United Nations really influence the direction of globalization?

Task 6:

Read the interviews and look up the meaning of unknown words and phrases in the dictionary?

Women are playing a central role in contributing to the growth of global economy. This is increasingly true in business and in politics – two realms traditionally dominated by men. Some of the global economy’s leading women thinkers lay out their views.

Are the fruits of globalization available to all?

“It would be wrong to be blind to the economic benefits that globalization has brought to some. The real question is how can we humanize globalization, how can we shape it in such a way that it can benefit all –instead of some.”

(Mary Robinson, UN high commissioner for human rights)

What risks come with globalization?

“Polarization rather than progressive globalization, that is the future – unless corrective actions are taken in time.”

(Chandrica Badaranaike Kumaratung,Sri Lanka’s President, on unchecked economic liberalization)

What is an example of this polarization?

“My 26 year – old daughter in London is earning almost as much money as I do- and she is just working as a secretary.”

(Helen Clark, New Zealand’s Prime Minister, on why many professionals leave New Zealand for good)

How can globalization be made to work for all?

“Globalization could be the answer to many of the world’s hard problems. But this requires strong democratic foundations based on a political will to ensure equality and justice.”

(Sharon Burrow, President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, on globalization)

How does one succeed in the business world today?

“You shouldn’t have a long – term strategy anymore, because you won’t be able to move fast enough.”

(Orit Gadish, chairman of Bain & Co.)

Task 7:

Give English equivalents of the following words and phrases.

Принимать меры; долгосрочная программа/стратегия; приносить пользу; основа; требовать; выгода/польза; справедливость; область/сфера; обеспечивать; способствовать; вносить вклад.

Task 8:

Agree or disagree with the following statements.

Agreement: Yes, I agree with you. / I can’t agree more. / Absolutely. / It’s obvious. / Exactly

Disagreement: I’m afraid I can’t agree / I’m sorry but that’s not quite right / To my mind it’s wrong

1) There is no denying that globalization will bring economic benefits to all.

2) Globalization does not carry any risks.

3) Globalization could be the answer to many of the world’s hard problems.

4) To ensure equality and justice strong democratic foundations are needed/

5) You won’t be able to move fast enough in a modern world.

6) Women are playing a central role in contributing to global economy.

7) Business and politics are two realms that are dominated by men

Task 9:

Questions for discussion

1) What role do women play in the modern world? Is this role changing?

2) Are the fruits of globalization available to all? Can it bring real benefits to poor nations?

3) What risks can globalization bring?

4) Why do you think women are not still fairly represented in the global economy?

5) Do you think globalization is a natural process?

Task 10:

Translate the following texts into English

Приведёт ли глобализация к более справедливому распределению богатства в мире? Независимо от того, что могут говорить критики глобализации, она, скорее всего не приведёт нас к неравенству. Если же такое случиться, то глобализация потерпит неудачу.

В эпоху глобализации возрастёт роль ООН и некоторых региональных организаций в улаживании внутренних конфликтов, так как ведущие державы в силу своих собственных проблем, отсутствия доброй воли или ограниченности ресурсов постараются минимизировать своё прямое вовлечение во внутренние конфликты других стран.

Однако глобализация может ослабить некоторые страны. Дело в том, что распространение рыночных отношений опережает возможности некоторых стран, где отсутствуют рыночная экономика, адаптироваться к этим отношениям. Тем более глобализация не может влиять на политические системы этих стран.

Task 11:

Comment on the quotation:

“Peace can’t be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding.”

(Albert Einstein)

Task 12:

Make a presentation on the topic below and answer the questions of the audience/

How does globalization affect Russia?

Task13:

Read the text and answer the questions on it

‘Color - blind’ France is failing its immigrants

France has ailed miserably to integrate the millions of Arab and African immigrants who have settled in the country since the 1960s, according to two reports this week.

The findings, by the state court of auditors and senior business leaders, confirm a reality that is familiar to everyone in France and highlight the bankruptcy of a state policy that denies the existence of ethnic communities.

France’s longstanding policy has been to promote a “color – blind” republic with notionally equal opportunities for all. Under left and right –wing Governments the State has refused to acknowledge the existence of serious obstacles to integration.

The state’s refusal to accept reality and help minorities is promoting Islamic extremism. The political leaders of the state have to accept the fact that the system of integration in France has broken down and the model of integration has failed. France faces a crisis situation that is not the result of immigration but the way that immigration has been treated.

Arab and African immigrants and their descendants have too often been shunted into ghetto –like housing estates and discriminated against over housing, jobs and education. The state’s refusal to gather statistics based on ethnic origins made it hard to analyze the lot of immigrants.

The French immigrant population is estimated at about seven million out of 60 million, most of them originally from France’s former colonies in north Africa.

The business leaders’ report, drafted for Jean –Pierre Raffarin, the Prime Minister, said that France was not only inflicting injustice on generations of ethnic minorities but also depriving itself of a vital economic resource.

According to the report, young people of Arab and African origin are five times more likely to be unemployed than the rest of the French population. In education the number of Arabs and Africans gaining access to top university courses and the elite “grandes ecoles” is decreasing, while problems at primary and secondary level schools are “incapable of ensuring basis literacy among non- French – speaking immigrants”

The report called for far more active measures to help minorities, but stopped short of supporting the idea of race quotas.

Such “positive discrimination” was enthusiastically backed my M. Sarkozy but was opposed by most of the political world as contradictory to France’s doctrine of the homogenous, egalitarian Republic.

Les grandes ecoles - the great higher education schools like Oxford or Cambridge in the UK or Ivy League universities in the US.

Task 14:

Reading between the lines:

1. Why did left and right – wing Government refuse to acknowledge the existence of serious obstacles to integration? What may such obstacles be? Why? How do such obstacles arise?

2. What is racially – integrated society? Can you give any examples? What country do you think has succeeded in creating a color – blind society?

3. Is reality more conservative than ideology? Reason out.

4. Does patriotism help to create an integrated society? Reason out.

5. Are multi-racial societies more prosperous? Why? Why not?

6. Do you agree that nationalism is the bane of our age? Reason out.

7. Do you think that nations are, primarily, geographical notions?

8. In what countries is it easier to create a racially –integrated society? Why?

9. Where do you think, it is easier to create a racially – integrated community: in a country, a town or a small village? Reason out.

Task 15:

Comment on the following:

1.”We all live under the same sky, but we don’t all have the same horizons.”

Konrad Adenauer

2.”The new electronic interdependence recreates the world in the image of a global village.”

Matshall McLuhan

3.”The world is an enormous injustice”

Jules Romains

Unit XVI.

Terrorism. Conflicts

Discussion points:

1. Name the most outrageous terrorist acts in history. What do you know about them?

2. How vulnerable is the world against terrorism?

3. Why has terrorism become so threatening to the world in the 21^st century? What are the recent trends in international terrorism?

4. What do you think the terrorists’ goals are?

5. To your mind, are terrorists born or made? Justify your answer.

6. Is terrorism somehow related to religion? Give your ideas on this.

7. How is terrorism related to drug issues?

8. How do you understand the term ”domestic terrorism”?

9. What measures are taken in the world against terrorism?

10. What is your attitude towards people like Leonid Roshal (the doctor who acted as a negotiator with terrorists)? Could you follow their example?

Task1:

Read the text and prepare to do the tasks that follow

Terrorism

The word “terrorism” was first used in reference to the Reign of Terror during the French revolution. A 1988 study by the United States Army found that more than one hundred definitions of the word exist and have been used. In many countries, acts of terrorism arte legally distinguished from criminal acts done for other purposes, and “terrorism” is defined by statute. In November 2004, a United Nations Security Council report described terrorism as an act “intended to cause death or serious bodily harm to civilians or non-combatants with the purpose of intimidating a population or compelling a government or an international organization to do or abstain from doing any act.”U.S. Department of Defense defined terrorism as:”The calculated use of unlawful violence or threat of unlawful violence to inculcate fear; intended to coerce or to intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of goals that are generally political, religious, or ideological.”

Smoke billowing from the World Trade Centre after the September 11, 2001 attacks described by the United Nations Security Council as “horrifying terrorists attacks.” Official definitions determine counter – terrorism policy and are often developed to serve it. Most government definitions outline the following key criteria: target, objective, motive, perpetrator, and legitimacy or legality of the act. Terrorism is also often recognized by a following statement from the perpetrators.

Violence – According to Walter Laqueur of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, “the only general characteristic of terrorism generally agreed upon is that terrorism involves violence and the threat of violence. ”However, the criterion of violence alone does not produce a useful definition, as it includes many acts not usually considered terrorism: war, riot, organized crime, or even a simple assault. Property destruction that does not endanger life is not usually considered a violent crime, but some have described property destruction by Earth Liberation Front and Animal Liberation Front as violence and terrorism; see eco-terrorism.

Psychological impact and fear – The attack was carried out in such a way as to maximize the severity and length of psychological impact. Each act of terrorism is a “performance,” devised to have an impact on many large audiences. Terrorists also attack national symbols to show their power and to shake the foundation of the country or society they are opposed to. This may negatively affect a government‘s legitimacy, while increasing the legitimacy of the given terrorist organization and /or ideology behind a terrorist attack.

Perpetrated for a Political Goal – Something all terrorist attacks have in common is their perpetration for a political purpose. Terrorism is a political tactic, not unlike letter writing or protesting, that is used by activists when they believe no other means will affect the kind of change they desire. The change is desired so badly that failure is seen as a worse outcome than the deaths of civilians. This is often where the interrelationship between terrorism and religion occurs. When a political struggle is integrated into the framework of a religious or “cosmic” struggle, failing in the political goal (nationalism) becomes equated with spiritual failure, which, for the highly committed, is worse than their death or the deaths of innocent civilians.

Deliberate targeting of non-combatants – It is commonly held that the distinctive nature of terrorism lies in its intentional and specific selection of civilians as direct targets. Specially, the criminal intent is shown when babies, children, mothers, and the elderly are murdered, or injured. Much of the time, the victims of terrorism are targeted not because they are threats, but because they are specific “symbols, tools, animals or corrupt beings” that tie into a specific view of the world that the terrorist possess. Their suffering accomplishes the terrorists’ goal of instilling fear, getting a message out to an audience, or otherwise accomplishing their often radical religious and political ends.

Disguise – terrorists almost invariably pretend to be non-combatants, hide among non-combatants, fight from the midst of non-combatants, and when they can, strive to mislead and provoke the government soldiers into attacking the wrong people, that the government may be blamed for it. When an enemy is identified as combatant, the world terrorism is rarely used.

Unlawfulness or illegitimacy – Some official definitions of terrorism add a criterion of illegitimacy or unlawfulness to distinguish between actions authorized by “legitimate” government and those of other actors, including individuals and small groups. Using this criterion, actions that would otherwise qualify as terrorism would not be considered terrorism if they were government sanctioned. For example, firebombing a city, which is designed to affect civilian support for a cause, would not be considered terrorism if it were authorized by a “legitimate” government. This criterion is inherently problematic and is not universally accepted, because: it denies the existence of state terrorism; the same act may or may not be classified as terrorism depending on whether its sponsorship is traced to a “legitimate” government;”legitimacy” and “lawfulness” are subjective, depending on the perspective of the government or another; and it diverges from the historically accepted meaning and origin of the term. For these reasons this criterion is not universally accepted.

Pejorative Use

The term “terrorism” and “terrorist” (someone who engages in terrorism) carry a strong negative connotation. These terms are often used as political labels to condemn violence or threat of violence by certain actors as immoral, indiscriminate, or unjustified. Those labeled “terrorists” rarely identify themselves as such, and typically use other euphemistic terms, such as: separatist, freedom fighter, liberator, revolutionary, vigilante, militant, paramilitary, guerrilla, rebel, jihadi, or Fedayeen, or any similar – meaning word in other languages.

The difference between the word “terrorist” and the terms above can be summed up by aphorism, “One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter.”This is exemplified when a group that uses irregular military methods is an ally of a State against a mutual enemy, but later falls out with the State and starts to use the same methods against its former ally. Groups accused of terrorism usually prefer terms that reflect legitimate military or ideological action.

Many times the term “terrorism” and “extremism” are interchangeably used. However, there is a difference between the two. Terrorism essentially - threat or act of physical violence. Extremism involves using non-physical instruments to mobilize minds to achieve political or ideological ends. A global research report An Inclusive World (2007) asserts that extremism poses a more serious threat than terrorism in the decades to come.

For these and other reasons, media outlets wishing to preserve a reputation for impartiality are extremely careful in their use of the term.

Types of Terrorism

In the spring of 1975, the Law Enforcement Assistant Administration in the United States formed the National Advisory Committee on Criminal Justice Standards and Goals. One of the five volumes that the Committee entitled Disorders and Terrorism classified terrorism into six categories

• Civil Disorders – a form of collective violence interfering with the peace, security, and normal functioning of the community.

• Political Terrorism – violent, criminal behavior designed to generate fear in the community for political purposes.

• Non –Political Terrorism –terrorism that is not aimed at political purposes but which exhibits “conscious design to create and maintain high degree of fear for coercive purposes, but the end is individual or collective gain rather than the achievement of political objective.

• Quasi –Terrorism-the activities incidental to the commission of crimes of violence that are similar in form and method to genuine terrorism but which nevertheless lack its essential ingredient. It is not the main purpose of the quasi-terrorists to induce terror in the immediate victim as in the case of genuine terrorism, but the quasi-terrorist uses the modalities and techniques of the genuine terrorist and produces similar consequences and reaction. For example, the fleeing felon who takes hostages is a quasi-terrorist, whose methods are similar to those of the genuine terrorist but whose purposes are quite different.

• Limited Political Terrorism – genuine political terrorism is characterized by a revolutionary approach; limited political terrorism refers to “acts of terrorism which are committed for ideological or political motives but which are not part of a concerted campaign to capture control of the State.

• Official of State Terrorism – referring to nations whose rule is based upon fear and oppression that reach similar to terrorism or such proportions.

In an analysis prepared for U.S. Intelligence four typologies are mentioned:

1. National –Separatist;

2. Religious fundamentalist;

3. New Religious;

4. Social Revolutionary.

Factors that may contribute to terrorism

• High population growth rates (so – called “youth bulges”)

• High Unemployment

• Lagging economies

• Political disenfranchisement

• Extremism

• Ethnic conflict

• Religious conflict

• Territorial conflict

Many opinions exist concerning the causes of terrorism; they range from demographic to socioeconomic and political factors. Demographic factors may include congestion and high growth rates. Socioeconomic factors nay include poverty, unemployment, and land tenure problems. Political factors may include disenfranchisement, ethnic conflict, religious conflict, territorial conflict, access to resources, or even revenge.

In some cases, he rationale for terrorist attack may be uncertain or unrelated to any large –scale social conflict (such as the Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway by Aum Shinrikyo)

A global research report “An Inclusive World” prepared by an international team of researchers has reached the conclusion that terrorism functions like an economic market. There is demand for terrorists placed by greed or grievance. Supply is driven by relative deprivation resulting in triple deficits – development deficit, democratic deficit and dignity deficit. Acts of terrorism take place at the point of intersection between supply and demand. Those placing the demand use religion and other denominators as vehicles to establish links with those on the supply side.

(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Task 2:

Learn the vocabulary from the text

Intimidate government disguise

Compel to do a combatant

Calculated use hostages

Unlawful violence unlawfulness

Outline the criteria illegitimacy

Perpetrator state terrorism

Threat of violence political label

Riot negative connotation

Assault freedom fighter

Severity liberator

Psychological impact paramilitary

Government legitimacy decades to come

Failure civil disorders

Deaths of civilians quasi- terrorism

Deliberate targeting political disenfranchisement

Intentional and specific selection grievance

Victims of terrorism demand

Task 3:

Answer the questions based on the text.

1. When was the term “terrorism” based?

2. How many definitions of the term “terrorism” are there?

3. How does a United Nations Security Council define terrorism?

4. What are the most typical characteristics of terrorism?

5. Why do terrorists attack national symbols?

6. Why are the criteria of illegitimacy inherently problematic and not universally accepted?

7. What euphemistic terms do terrorists use to identify themselves?

8. What is the difference between the terms “terrorism” and “extremism”?

9. What types of terrorism are mentioned in the text?

Task 4:

Study the collocations with the word “terror” and its derivatives. Use as many of them as you can in the sentences of your own.

Terror

Resort to terror terror gang

Use terror terror group

Give in to terror an act of terror

Terror campaign a reign of terror

Terror tactics

Terrorism

Urban terrorism defeat terrorism

International terrorism give in to terrorism

Organized terrorism terrorism campaign

State terrorism terrorism against

Combat terrorism an act of terrorism

Fight terrorism

Terrorist

Suspected terrorist terrorist atrocity

Armed terrorist terrorist attack

International terrorist terrorist bombing

Republican terrorist terrorist explosion

Right –wing terrorist terrorist murder

Terrorist band terrorist violence

Terrorist faction terrorist threat

Terrorist group terrorist target

Terrorist organization terrorist victim

Terrorist unit terrorist charge

Terrorist act terrorist crime

Terrorist action terrorist offense

Terrorist activity terrorist suspect

Task 5:

Give a free translation of the text «Трагедия Норд-Оста» into English.

Трагедия Норд-Оста

Вооружённые чеченские боевики во главе с Мансуром Бараевым ворвались в здание бывшего Дворца культуры Государственного шарикоподшипникового завода, когда на сцене шёл мюзикл «Норд-Ост».

В зале находилось более 900 человек. Захватившие заложников заминировали зал; среди них также были несколько женщин с поясами смертниц.

На следующий день телеканал « Аль-Джазира» показал запись боевиков Бараева, сделанную до захвата театра. Они требовали вывода российских войск из Чечни.

Рано утром 26 октября 2002 года российский спецназ нейтрализовал боевиков с помощью газа. Спецназовцы вошли в здание и застрелили всех боевиков, которые находились без сознания, - 18 женщин и 32 мужчины.

Газ подействовал и на сотни заложников, находившихся в здании. Большинство погибших умерли именно на этом этапе – предположительно, им не была оказана необходимая медицинская помощь. Кроме того, медицинские учреждения не знали, какое именно противоядие требовалось.

Российские власти считают применение спецслужбами газа своевременным и обоснованным, так как боевики готовились взорвать здание.

Среди погибших заложников «Норд Оста» - 120 россиян и восемь граждан других стран.

(BBC Russian)

Task 6:

Read the quotations “Against Terrorism” Choose any two and speak on them.

1.”There certainly is an appropriate response (to terrorism), and we know exactly what it is. Determine who the perpetrators are, present some minimally credible evidence (identifying the terrorists) and then follow the rule of law.”

Noam Chomsky

2.”Terrorism is a desire to destroy anyone. Then we have to ask, how a democracy can defend itself. It is important to have a strong, decentralized democratic society, but if we want to catch criminals fast, we need another precept .It is difficult to combine these in law. We know that there are a lot of illegal money going around because of prostitution, international crime, drugs and terrorism. Because of this we need transparency in the world of finance.”

Tarja Halonen

3.”Terror is not a new weapon. Throughout history it has been used by those who could not prevail, either by persuasion or example. But inevitably they fail, either because men are not afraid to die for a life worth living, or because the terrorists themselves came to realize that free men cannot be frightened by threats and that aggression would meet its own response. And it is in the light of that history that every nation today should know be a friend or foe, that the United States has both will and the weapons to join free men in standing up to their responsibilities.”

John F.Kennedy

4.”How to defeat terrorism?

Don’t be terrorized.

Don’t let fear rule your life,

Even if you are scared.”

Salma Rushdie

5.”We must starve terrorists…..of the oxygen of publicity on which they depend.”

Margaret Thatcher

Task 7:

Read the article and comment on it.

Transnational terrorism

States with poor governance; ethnic, or religious tensions; weak economies will be prime grounds for terrorism. At the same time, the trend away from state – supported political terrorism and toward more diverse, transnational networks – enabled by information technology- will continue. Some of the states that actively sponsor terrorism or terrorist groups’ today may decrease or even cease their support by 2015 as a result of regime changes, or the conclusion that terrorism has become counterproductive. But weak states also could drift toward cooperation with terrorists, creating de facto new state supporters. Between now and 2015 terrorist tactics will become increasingly sophisticated and aimed at achieving mass casualties. We expect the trend toward greater lethality in terrorist attacks to continue.

Task 8:

Read the article and look up the meaning of unknown words

Global trends: future conflict

Through 2015, internal conflicts will pose the most frequent threat to stability around the world. Intensive wars, though less frequent, will grow in lethality due to the availability of more destructive technologies. The international community will have to deal with the military, political, and economic dimensions of the rise of China and India and the continued decline of Russia. Many internal conflicts, particularly those arising from communal disputes, will continue to be dangerous, long – lasting and difficult to terminate.

They frequently will trigger refugee flows, humanitarian emergencies, and other regionally destabilizing dislocations.

Internal conflicts will cause spillover into inter-state conflicts as neighboring states move to exploit opportunities for gain or to limit the possibilities of damage to their national interests.

Weak states will face internal conflicts, threatening the stability of a globalizing international system.

Internal conflicts growing from state repression, religious and ethnic discontent, increasing migration pressures will occur most frequently in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Caucasus and Central Asia, and parts of south and south-east Asia, Central America and the Andean region.

The United Nations and several regional organizations will continue to be called upon to manage some internal conflicts because major states – stressed by domestic concerns, risk of failure, lack of political will, or tight resources – will wish to minimize their direct involvement. When, however, some western governments, international and regional organizations press for outside military intervention in certain internal conflicts, they will be opposed by such states as China, India, Russia and many developing countries that will tend to view interventions as dangerous precedents challenging state sovereignty.

Task 9:

Give English equivalents of the following words and phrases and reproduce the sentences from the text with this active vocabulary.

Поток беженцев; вызвать; измерение; межкультурные и религиозно – этнические разногласия; нехватка ресурсов; представлять угрозу; заканчивать; внутренний; гуманитарная катастрофа; перетекание (переход); летальность; использовать возможность; недовольство; межгосударственные войны; иметь тенденцию.

Task10:

Read the article again and answer the questions using the active vocabulary

1) What conflicts will pose the most frequent threat to stability around the world?

2) Why will inter-state wars grow in lethality?

3) What features of future internal conflicts can you name?

4) What will internal conflicts frequently trigger?

5) What will internal conflicts cause?

6) What are internal conflicts growing from?

7) What will China, India and Russia oppose? And why?

Task11:

Using the active vocabulary retell the article in English.

Task 12:

Questions for discussion.

1) What countries do you believe will be more dangerous and why?

2) Why do you think non-government experts assume that many internal conflicts, particularly those arising from communal disputes, will continue to be dangerous, long-lasting and difficult to terminate?

3) Why will internal conflicts spillover into inter-state conflict?

4) How do you think religious and ethnic discontent, increasing migration pressures may affect Russian security?

Task 13:

Translate the following texts into English

1.Превентивная война- война захватническая, в этом нет сомнения. Она не может подходить под определение справедливой оборонительной войны. Такое заявление сделал председатель католической организации «Справедливость и мир».

« Каждое государство имеет право защищаться от нападения, - уточнил он,- но это должно быть реальное нападение, а не вероятность агрессии, Вначале должна быть агрессия, а затем ответный, оборонительный удар, а не наоборот».

2.Индия пристально следит за ракетно – ядерными программами Пакистана и предпринимает соответствующие меры на случай применения на её территории ядерного или биологического оружия. Об этом проинформировал министр обороны страны верхнюю палату парламента. Индия делает всё, подчеркнул он, чтобы гарантировать защиту от ядерного оружия.

Он также заявил, что Пакистан вновь открыл на своей территории лагеря и учебные центры по подготовке террористов с целью их последующей отправки в Индию для совершения террористических актов и дестабилизации в этом регионе.

Comment on the quotation:

“Against war it may be said that it makes the victor stupid and the vanquished revengeful.”

(Nietzsche)

Task 14:

Read the article and look up the unknown words and phrases in the dictionary.