Terrorism Tactics

Whilst many believe terrorism is a new phenomenon, the term ‘terrorism’ goes back several hundred years to the French Revolution. Concentrating on the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) and Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), this essay will compare and contrast the different strategies and tactics of terrorist groups from the 1970’s to the present day. In doing so, the essay will demonstrate consistency in strategy amongst terrorist groups – the search for political recognition despite differing tactical approaches to their campaigns. The essay will firstly begin by breaking down why the ideologies are similar and how they begin to form the overall strategy. Next, how the differences in media coverage have starved or helped each

The media and support are key for any terrorist group wanting to climb the political ladder and gain legitimacy within its own right. Since the 1970’s, terrorist groups have utilised the media to the best of their ability. History has shown that if a terrorist group can control/manipulate its own media, there is potential to create local and wider sympathy for its cause. The IRA released the 'Green Book', detailing training, tactics and targets, as appose to ISIS, who have a full wing dedicated to its media outlet today. This proves ISIS is taking itself to a full worldwide co-operation rather than just a set of ideas for a caliphate. ISIS’s media department uses the internet to capitalise on the various social mediums for its primary audience. Using YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, ISIS can reach all over the world at mere clicks of a button. Steve Rose highlighted this in 2014, ISIS are using the West’s media tools to grasp the attention of potential recruits outside the Middle East. Understanding the importance of the media has certainly helped project ISIS into the lime-light. Running alongside the internet social push, is the “Dabiq” magazine. A propaganda led magazine ‘published in English by an ISIS media arm.’ In stark contrast, the IRA had a media ban during the latter half of ‘The Troubles’ (1968-1998, used to

Messages are to make the world understand that you do not want to be occupied by another state, wanting to be recognized as a caliphate in disputed territories. The message is delivered in the same way, through the medium of media coverage on the back of terrorist actions. Shootings, bombings, knife attacks, anything that sparks human interest in the wake of destruction. The tactic of using terror to gain popularity ever grows in the eyes of these organizations, which was perfected by the IRA from the 70’s to the late 90’s (‘the troubles’). The IRA used terror consciously, suggesting they chose their fights and the grounds on which they exploited their enemy.The tactic to utilize guerrilla warfare and not traditional warfare acted as a force multiplier and gained much public interest. Comparatively, ISIS have used terror throughout the globe rather than being localized to either colonial or England. To invoke fear and excitement (for supporters) to their cause, they have used the tactic of terror from the beginning. This tactic has helped place ISIS firmly in the medias headlines thus bolstering the media offensive