Терроризм как социально-психологическое явление. Практикум на английском языке

the Sharia, as the candidate of philosophical sciences R. Kadyrov speaks openly about. In a situation of systemic crisis, the elements of the fundamentalist consciousness of believers turned out to be fertile ground for the further development on their basis of radical Islamic (Salafi, or Neo-Wahhabi) consciousness.

The political and economic situation in the North Caucasus led to the fact that the religious consciousness of Muslims today was represented by only two of its types: traditional, that is close to fundamentalism, and extremist-Salafi (Wahhabi), which was the basis for the development of a terrorist movement in the region under Islamic cover.

Islamic fundamentalism is a term used to define a religious and political movement in support of strict adherence to the Koran and Sharia.

The followers of North-Caucasian terrorism were greatly influenced by ultra-radical ideas of the Salafi authors, where the path of armed opposition and sabotage – according to radicals – jihad, was the beginning and end of any struggle against the “Kufr system” (unbelief) and their “accomplices” so-called “Apostates” (“murtadun”) and “hypocrites” (“munafikun”). Ethnic Muslims, most often the members of the security forces, are meant by the first, therefore, the focus of terrorism is primarily directed against them; under the second – representatives of official Islam.

Jihad (from Arabic – “an effort”) is a concept in Islam, denoting zeal for the cause of Allah, fighting for faith, fighting against the vices of society, eliminating social injustice, punishing criminals.

The transformation of terrorist communities in recent years has been mainly along the path of adapting the network forms of the organization to the needs of terrorist groups. In connection with the proliferation of information technology, terrorist organizations in the North Caucasus have the opportunity to coordinate promptly any actions of individual combat groups at any scale.

Today, on the territory of almost all the subjects (with the predominance of the Muslim population) of the Southern and North Caucasus federal districts, there are own terrorist networks of “youth jamaats”. If in the late 90’s – early 2000’s. they were connected with each other at the level of leaders and even rank-and-file members, today independent network structures interact among themselves indirectly, mainly, set goals, i.e. ideologically.

The analysis of materials related to the activities of the “youth jamaats” allows us to make a forecast for the future: these network struc-

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TERRORISM AS A SOCIO-PSYCHOLOGICAL PHENOMENON

tures have proved their viability, autonomy and self-restoration. Radical ideologies allow their bearers not only to justify the crimes they commit, but to plan and carry out sabotage and terrorist acts, disregarding the losses among civilians.

Jamaat is an association of a group of Muslims for the purpose of joint study of Islam, religious communication among themselves, mutual assistance, religious rites. Can unite believers on a territorial basis (visiting one mosque) or followers definitely the direction of Islam. The jamat is led by an imam – an expert in Islam, including his ritual side.

Issues for discussion

1.What features of the region determine the specifics of the terrorism spread in the North Caucasus?

2.How can we characterize the concepts of extremism, separatism, escalation of the conflict?

3.What part of the population is most actively involved in recruiting terrorists?

4.What is jamaat?

5.How can ethno-confessional features of the region affect the forms of terrorism?

6.Describe the features of the connection of terrorist activities with the religious views of the perpetrators of terrorist acts?

7.Psychological analysis and evaluation of terrorist acts committed in the world and in Russia.

8.Signs of terrorism. Compare psychological features of criminal and political terrorism.

Task for discussion

Evaluate the current state of terrorist activity in the North Caucasus, based on the history of events in the region in the past 20 years, try to make a forecast for the development of the situation for the near future. Proceeding from the formulated conclusions, suggest socio-psychologi- cal solutions to the existing difficulties in the region.

Methodological recommendations

1. Form a group of participants, trying to ensure the heterogeneity of its composition.

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2.Think about all aspects of the problem, avoiding template, typical solutions. Try to use not only critical thinking, but also imagination, not hesitating to express even “absurd” ideas.

3.During the brainstorming session, students are asked to answer the following questions: What are the worldview components of the terrorist personality? What are the characteristics of the terrorist type of personality and terrorist consciousness? Propose the concept of the terrorist’s personality as a soulless “destructive machine.”

4.All participants should be provided with an equal opportunity to express their ideas; relations between them should be based on the principles of tolerance and mutual respect. The teacher, as necessary, should ask leading questions that will allow giving a new direction to the participants’ thoughts and preventing the repetition of similar ideas.

5.The procedure of brainstorming is not considered effective without subsequent examination of ideas. Experts group similar ideas and formulate the general principles that underlie each group. Discuss this problem by defending or refuting the proposed points of view:

As an additional element of the ideological training of young suicide bombers, the following can be used:

– contradistinction of youth and parents and people of the older generation;

– advocacy of the ideology of neglect to work, physical work, social justice among the Muslim youth;

– inculcating a sense of special Wahhabi dignity and excellence over persons professing Islam of a different kind;

– Compromise customs and family foundations in the traditional Islamic traditions for the area, inculcating a sense of contempt for the official Muslim clergy, denying their teaching among believers;

– propaganda of simplified execution of Muslim rites (co-hosting several prayers, denying the requirements of the traditional school of Islam) in Wahhabi communities and jamaats;

– The imposition (including the methods of physical pressure) of thoughts about leaving the national custom and moving to the position of “pure Islam”;

– impelling a sense of impunity for encroachment on the property of “infidels” (movable and immovable), life and health of “kafirs”;

– callings for manifestations of “jihad” with the use of weapons, ex-

plosives, poisons;

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TERRORISM AS A SOCIO-PSYCHOLOGICAL PHENOMENON

–agitation to oust the Slavs from the North Caucasus and seize their property by force.

As elements of the ideological training of young girls (“brides of Allah”) can be used:

–the upcoming marriage;

–sexual violence;

–warning the victim and parents that the recording of violence can become known to all friends and relatives;

–a powerful ideological and psychotropic pressure, the purpose of which is to show that the only way out is “death in the name of Allah”.

As elements of the ideological training of middle-aged women (“black widows”), the following can be used:

–separation of these women from the family and maximum submission to jamaatu (Wahhabi community);

–powerful ideological processing and training to psychotropic drugs;

–programming of actions under the scenario of organizers of act of terrorism.

Psycho-programming can be used as elements of ideological training for residents of different nationalities in a specific region.

Features of social maladjustment.

Features of socio-psychological maladjustment are associated with increased anxiety, closeness, orientation only on a narrow group of mentors, increased passivity, destruction of the personal sphere. In the presence of constantly unstable, inadequate self-esteem. And it can be as overpriced (before feeling like a superman deciding the fate of other people), and understated (in need of confirmation at the expense of these other people). Purposefulness is only a fixed moment of psychological instability, reaching a level of abnormality. Personality accentuated, with unusually strong, bright, not quite “normal” expression of some features.

Dynamics of the mental state of a terrorist.

The mental state of a terrorist can vary from a subtle excitement to panic. The nature and degree of change in the mental state of a terrorist depend on:

–individual psychological characteristics;

–maintaining the control of the psychological state in the awareness of: the approaching death, the presence of factors that hinder the imple-

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mentation of the terrorist act (police officers, vigilant citizens, unfavorable circumstances, etc.);

– use of psycho-programming, psychotropic and narcotic substances. Psychological studies of the person who committed the offense lead to the conclusion that the very desire for violence, murder, cruelty and in

general to violate the law is a deviant behavior or an anomalous (from the Greek word “apomia” - the denial of the law).

These individuals deny the moral values adopted in society, cannot correctly assess their position in the group of other people, set unacceptable goals and use illegal means of achievement, that is, the process of adaptation and socialization of the individual is violated.

In view of the foregoing, the terrorist practically does not lend himself to rational dissuasion. He is ignorant of fear and remorse in a committed or committed terrorist act.

The terrorist acts as a soulless “destructive machine”, devoid of complex moral and ethical problems. In the literature there are psychological descriptions of the three most vivid versions of such a “terrorist machine” – terrorists with so-called syndromes: “Zombies”, “Rambo” and “Shaheda.”

Analysis and evaluation of terrorist acts committed in the world and in Russia in recent years allows researchers to identify six of the most common types of suicide bombers: 1)”zombies” terrorists; 2) terrorists from revenge; 3) “patriots” terrorists (militants for “faith”); 4) terrorists for money; 5)”involuntarily” terrorists; 6) “maniacs” terrorists (having delusional ideas).

1. The “zombies” terrorist. Zombification (mental reprogramming) means such a psychic treatment of a person (usually using hypnosis and psychotropic substances), in which he receives an unknowing by himself “installation” for a specific action or act (in this case it is programmed to commit a terrorist act).

Thus, a terrorist act is committed by a person who is not aware of what he is doing; his behavior is controlled by another person. At the same time, both mentally healthy persons and persons with various degrees of mental disorders can be subjected to zombification. According to research, 20 % of the population is not susceptible to suggestion and psycho-correction due to their genetic characteristics. Mental programming of a person is accompanied by significant emotional stresses, so people with acute cardiovascular diseases and asthmatics are not suitable

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TERRORISM AS A SOCIO-PSYCHOLOGICAL PHENOMENON

for zombifying and committing a terrorist act (because of the high probability of vasospasm or breathing at the time of the terrorist act.

Distinctive signs of a terrorist “zombie”: an indifferent (soulless, lifeless) face and a detached (glass) look; the movements are monotonous; gesturing is inexpressive; contacts with other people are absent or accidental. When talking with such a person, one can observe sluggish speech and intonations in the voice.

If an unprogrammed obstacle arises (he is detained by police officers), he is lost, looking for some kind of support “from outside,” he has inexplicable changes in his emotional state (a feeling of uncertainty, anxiety and anxiety). It must be remembered that it may have been programmed to “self-destruct” when such a situation arises. Depending on what kind of mental reprogramming (“hard” or “soft”) a person was exposed to, there will also be distinctive signs of the appearance and behavior of such a “zombie”. With a “hard” form of zombification, these symptoms can be clearly observed, with a “soft” form - absent.

2.The “avenger” terrorist. Among these terrorists are many women who have lost husbands, children, close relatives. Torn from the family and the usual circle of communication, subjected to powerful ideological and psychotropic treatment, they form the backbone of “shahidkas” – suicide bombers (“black widows”, “brides of Allah”). Revenge can be directed at the objects of state power or only security agencies and law enforcement agencies, on a specific person. Such a terrorist can be identified by an observational employee by manifestations of emotional coldness (or even negative emotions towards others) and high self-control. If he is stopped for a “conversation”, he has an inadequate emotional reaction, an increase in anxious and aggressive state, especially among women. At the same time, the terrorist does not want to answer the questions (and does not understand these questions), aspires to immediate withdrawal from the “obstacle” that has arisen on the way to the goal.

Thus, his behavior does not correspond in any way to the behavior of an ordinary person caught in a similar situation. It should be borne in mind that some terrorists from revenge can also be prepared to commit terrorist acts by “zombifying”.

3.The “patriot” terrorist (“militant”, “for faith”). This is the most

common type of terrorist. Under the influence of experienced instructors, he develops a fanatical conviction in his faith, ideas and the image

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of the enemy in the form of representatives of another faith, of a different nationality. He regards the commission of a terrorist act as “jihad” against “infidels”, as a feat for the faith or liberation of his people. He realizes that he is committing a terrorist act, killing people and destroying property, and he wants such consequences. Thus, he goes on a crime with direct intent, with the conviction in his rightness.

Such a terrorist fanatically (before frenzy) is devoted to his religion, ideas, extremely suspicious, cold-blooded, confident in his abilities, is in constant readiness to commit a terrorist act. The surrounding people are suspicious, with casual contact with people hot-tempered, aggressive. There is also an arrogant and contemptuous attitude towards those around him. Sometimes you can see how such a suicide bomber quietly reads a prayer (especially before committing a terrorist attack).

4.Terrorist “for money”. He is going to commit a terrorist act because of mercenary motives (fulfilling the task of those who are in complete financial dependence, or in extreme need and trying to provide material support for the family). Such a terrorist is characterized by a lack of ideological motives and indifference to others.

5.Terrorist “involuntarily”. A man can be pushed to commit a ter-

rorist attack either by blackmail (taking his family members hostage, threatening to disclose any information discrediting the person, etc.) or by the decision of the Shariah court for the crimes committed (a deeply believing person, to atone for God). The face of such a terrorist is morose, pale, morbid, the mood is low, movements are slow, gestures are inexpressive. He is silent, immersed in his own thoughts, is indifferent to the people around him and to the events that are taking place. At conversation he does not look the interlocutor in the person, avoids contact of eyes. The voice of such a terrorist is usually muffled, quiet, speech slow. Before answering the question, there may be long pauses.

6. Terrorist “maniac” (having delusional ideas). More often it is a “single” terrorist, suffering from various kinds of mental abnormalities (consequences of traumatic brain injury, brain diseases, alcohol, drugs). Due to his psycho-pathological features and obsessions, he at any cost craves fame (“megalomania”), destroys the pursuing “enemies” (“persecution mania”) or wishes to rebuild the country (the world, the universe). Especially dangerous is a terrorist if his or her mind is skillfully manipulated by a terrorist organization. The distinctive features of this terrorist

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are isolation, imbalance and sudden changes in mood, irritability and aggression, hysteria, fussiness in movements or in words. Often, there may be signs of grumbling, resentment, and the desire to impress, selfishness. When trying to detain, he usually does not have fierce resistance.

Juvenile suicide bombers in the vast majority of cases donate not for money, but for a national or religious idea. They voluntarily go on self-sacrifice because of the planted (by methodical suggestion, the impact of drugs) adults of false feelings of hatred and revenge against the infidels, the enemies of their people.

One can single out a number of personal predispositions, which often become motivating motives for individuals to enter the path of terrorism:

–an aggressive concept of the external environment (i.e., a stable belief that surrounding people desire evil, are incapable of understanding, etc.)

–super-concentration on the protection of his “I” by projection with a constant aggressive defensive readiness;

–reassessment of one’s own importance, unstable mood, desire to avoid social control;

–insufficient personal identity, low self-esteem, elements of personality splitting;

–an inner emptiness that pushes for the search for thrills in the form of a game with death;

–Strong need to join the group, that is, in group identification or membership;

–experiencing a large degree of social injustice with a propensity to project on society the causes of their failures;

–social isolation and alienation, a sense of being on the roadside of society and loss of life prospects.

So, the most important component of the psychological characterization of the terrorist’s personality are typical features, but it should be noted that the above set of these traits is not some generalized psychological profile of the terrorist’s personality.

Criminal terrorism is the actions of criminal groups of criminal persuasion, professing and using methods of fear, violence, coercion to achieve material enrichment. The term “criminal terrorism” appeared thanks to journalists. In this regard, they often receive criticism for the excessively broad interpretation of the term “terrorism”. But, considering crime in the context of politics, it is necessary to recognize that at mo-

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ments of political instability, some extremely dangerous (or large-scale) manifestations of “ordinary” crime become a most serious destructive factor and are able to influence political processes. Criminal activities of a terrorist nature may include such dangerous types of crime as drug trafficking, systematic hostage taking for ransom. In this series, and using terrorist methods (sabotage, etc.) racket, are causing damage to health and property, as personal addressees, and accidental witnesses of the incident. The distinctive features of political and criminal terrorism are indicated in the Table 1.

Table 1

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Thus, criminal terrorism, if compared to political terrorism, seems to be a simpler phenomenon, without an ideological foundation. It has the character of a means to achieve the tactical goals of criminal groups, that is why it is local, short-term, and narrowly directed from the point of view of choosing objects of criminal encroachment.

On the passing environment of the terrorist acts, it is possible to single out: land, sea, air, space and computer terrorism.

Differentiation of different types of terrorism is of paramount importance for its prediction, prevention, neutralization, because each time the social, political, psychological, cultural and other determinants of terrorist activity can differ significantly.

Reports themes

1.Psychological features of the manifestation of terrorism in the North Caucasus region.

2.The current state of youth extremism in the South of Russia: theory and practice.

3.Structure of the creative project on the role of the media in countering terrorism.

4.Value-ideological conflict as a precondition for terrorism and extremism in the South of Russia.

5.Prevention of nationalism and xenophobia in the communities of the North Caucasus Federal District.

List of references on the p. 90.

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