POLITICAL TERRORISM AND THE SIZE OF GOVERNMENT: A POSITIVE INSTITUTIONAL ANALYSIS OF VIOLENT POLITICAL ACTIVITY

In: Public choice, Band 40, S. 41-52

Abstract

POLITICAL TERRORISM HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS VIOLENT POLITICAL BEHAVIOR PRIMARILY DESIGNED TO GENERATE FEAR IN THE COMMUNITY, OR A SUBSTANTIAL PART OF IT, FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES.1 POLITICAL TERRORISM IS DISTINGUISHED FROM REVOLUTION IN THAT THE IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVE OF TERRORIST ACTS IS INTIMIDATION RATHER THAN THE OVERTHROW OF THE EXISTING GOVERNMENT. TERRORISM IS A FORM OF POLITICAL EXTORTION. POSITIVE THEORIES OF CRIME2 AND EXTORTION3 ASSUME THAT INDIVIDUALS WILL ACT TO MAXIMIZE SOME OBJECTIVE FUNCTION SUBJECT TO EXISTING SOCIAL OR LEGAL CONSTRAINTS. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO PARALLEL TO THESE POSITIVE APPROACHES AIMED DIRECTLY AT THE SUBJECT OF POLITICAL TERRORISM.