Political Violence

Violence is a common means used by people and governments around the world to achieve political goals. Many groups and individuals believe that their political systems will never respond to their political demands. As a result they believe that violence is not only justified but also necessary in order to achieve their political objectives. By the same token, many governments around the world believe they need to use violence in order to intimidate their populace into acquiescence. At other times, governments use force in order to defend their country from outside invasion or other threats of force.

Political violence is used by citizens, groups, or governments in different contexts: Another context of political violence occurs when the military or some other organized group seize control of the government in their country.  Coups d'état happen frequently in some countries, and they may involve much bloodshed but sometimes occur without serious injuries or loss of life.  For example, the military staged a coup in Pakistan in October 1999 without significant injuries occurring.  Pakistanis have lived under military rule for about half of the 50 years since it gained independence.

TERRORISM

Just what constitutes "terrorism" is a subject of debate. To understand some of the potential of terrorism, read the various definitions of terrorism. However, a group can resort to violence without using terrorism.

The Al Qaeda attacks on New York and Washington on September 11, 2001 marked a dramatic change on the scale of anti-US terrorist attacks. Previously, they had been generally restricted to attacks on embassies or corporate and military targets abroad - with the notable exception of the 1993 attack on the World Trade Center. The biggest fear now is that weapons of mass destruction might be used in future attacks.

International terrorism to achieve goals in one part of the world is sometimes played out in other places far away. The CBC's Air India Bombing coverage provides information on the largest mass murder in Canadian history. It is widely believed that Sikh separatists living in Canada planted a bomb aboard an Air India flight leaving Canada in 1985, killing all 329 people on board.

Canada has also had other serious instances of political violence, particularly the "October Crisis" of 1970, when the FLQ kidnapped a Quebec cabinet minister and a British diplomat; Pierre Laporte was murdered while James Cross was eventually set free. In response to these events the federal government imposed the War Measures Act.

Recent Trends in Domestic and International Terrorism is a report prepared by the Center for National Security Studies.

The U.S. State Department provides a wide range of information about counter terrorism at its web site.

For a wide range of links to groups that use or espouse violence to achieve their political goals, connect to International Terrorist Groups.

The U.S. State Department has designated 36 groups as "terrorist organizations". You can read the State Department's fact sheet on this designation.

At an international ministerial meeting in Paris in 1996, an agreement was reached on 25 measures to counter international terrorism. See also the G-7 Declaration on Terrorism that led to this ministerial meeting.

Canada has also had some serious political violence, particularly the "October Crisis" of 1970, when the FLQ kidnapped a Quebec cabinet minister and a British diplomat; Pierre Laporte was murdered while James Cross was eventually set free. In response to these events the federal government imposed the War Measures Act.

General sites with information on political violence or terrorism include:


GOVERNMENT COUNTER-TERRORIST AGENCIES

Government organizations that deal with political violence as well as other intelligence and national security matters include:


In the U.K.:
In the U.S.:


MILITARY FORCE

The most extreme use of violence for political ends occurs when governments send their military forces into battle. For relevant links and other information, connect to:

Australian Defence Home Page

Canadian Department of National Defence

Japan Defense Agency

New Zealand Ministry of Defence

United Kingdom Ministry of Defence

United States Department of Defense - with links to the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps

PEACEKEEPING

A significant attempt has been made by the international community to limit the escalation of local armed conflicts or to facilitate cease-fires through the work of multinational peacekeeping forces.

Some information on Canada's active participation in peacekeeping missions can be found at:

Most international peacekeeping missions are organized through the United Nations. Visit the UN Peacekeeping Operations site to find out about the 53 UN operations undertaken over the years.


PEACEMAKING

A more difficult and controversial arena of collective international action involves movement into a region of armed conflict - against one of the participant's wishes - and the use of force to restore peace. Two of the most notable examples of peacemaking in the last ten years are the UN action to expel Iraq from Kuwait and the 1999 NATO action to expel Serbian/Yugoslav forces from the Kosovo region of Yugoslavia.

The confrontation with Iraq in 2003 has its roots in the earlier conflict over a decade earlier.

You can find various points of view on the 1990-91 war with Iraq and the ongoing operations in the area visiting:

For more information about the NATO action in Kosovo and the UN peacekeeping presence, connect to: