Bruce Allen Scharlau PhD thesis

345 Pages·2013·20.96 MB·English

LEFT-WING TERRORISM IN THE FEDERAL
REPUBLIC OF GERMANY
Bruce Allen Scharlau
A Thesis Submitted for the Degree of PhD
at the
University of St Andrews
1992
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UNIVERSITY OF ST. ANDREWS
LEFT-WING TERRORISM
IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY
A Thesis for the Degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
BRUCE ALLEN SCHARLAU
20 December 1991
ABSTRACT
The Federal Republic of Germany has coped with indigenous left-wing
terrorism for several decades and not lost its liberal democratic
character which raises the question of why terrorists continue to
f
attract recruits to fight the state. This case study of terrorist
motivation also elucidates the concept of identification, the lasting
influence of someone, some group or some idea on others, to aid the
f
understanding of motivation and responses to terrorism. Identification
also enables the integration of three entwined levels of terrorism
study- -individuals, groups and society.
Elucidation of left-wing terrorism in the Federal Republic of
Germany shows that a wide variety of persons became terrorists. The
important factors in becoming a terrorist were the influence of
'significant others' both in the decision to join a terrorist group! and
later wi thin the group! as well as the perception that terrorism was the
only available option. The terrorist groups fonned 'macronarrativ es
r
based on the group members' shared history and culture which supported
their decisions to offer incentives and sanctions to group members to
enable their underground existence. Not all of the groups sought to
influence public policy. The Red Army Faction was mainly interested in
group survival! as was the Second of June, while some of the
Revolutionary Cells and Alitonamen followed their self-interest in
commiting terrorist acts. Other Revolutionary Cells and Autanamen
groups, however! sought public policy changes through terrorist acts in
support of protest groups. The other groups had limited concepts of the
'public'! which reflected their group direction.
The government of the Federal Republic responded to left-wing
terrorism with short-tenn paramilitary options taking precedence over
the socio-economic considerations. The Gennan government
long~tenn
generally has perceived all left-wing terrorist groups as the same! and
not given due consideration to the different terrorist organisations
perceptions of the 'public'. A clearer perception of left-wing terrorism
in the Federal Republic of Germany shows the usefulness of the concept
of identification in the study of terrorism, and highlights the
processes involved in terrorist motivation at individual, group and
society levels.
iii
DECLARATIONS
I, BRUCE ALLEN SCHARLAU, hereby certify that this thesis, which is
approximately 103,000 words in length, has been written by me, that it
is the record of work carried out by me and that it has not been
submitted in any previous application for a higher degree.
date!! De..Q.v.1.....- (r4( signature of candidate
I was admitted as a research student under Ordinance No. 12 in October
1986 and as a candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in
October 1986; the higher study for which this is a record was carried
out in the University of St. Andrews between 1986 and 1991 .
1 Pe.cs.'-vfir--lH
date/ / signature of candidate
I hereby certify that the candidate has fulfilled the conditions of the
Resolution and Regulations appropriate for the degree of Doctor of
Philosophy in the University of st. Andrews and that the candidate is
qualified to submit this thesis in application for that degree.
;) . to'
date I CJ I.K...-<.... ,\ signature of supervisor
iv
In submitting this thesis to the University of St. Andrews I understand
that I am giving permission for it to be made available for use in
accordance with the regulations of the University Library for the time
being in force, subject to any copyright vested in the work not being
affected thereby. I also understand that the title and abstract will be
published, and that a copy of the work may be made and supplied to any
bona fide library or research worker.
signature of candidat
v
DEDICATION
Formerly our home had three.
CUrrently it has two.
Success is due to the help of the other one.
The completion of a project of this magnitude can be accomplished only
with the assistance of others! to whom I here publically give my thanks.
Financial assistance came from my parents and other relatives, a grant
from the University of Aberdeen! the Axel Springer Stiftung, and the
Intercon Security Fellowship arranged through the Research Institute for
the Study of Conflict and Terrorism, who also employed me! as did the
Universities of Aberdeen and St. Andrews. Research assistance was given
by Dr. David Th. Schiller in Stuttgart; and Dr. Alex Schmid in Leiden.
Supervisory guidance was given by Prof. Paul Wilkinson and Dr. Alasdair
M. Stewart, who saw my potential in the early days, and saw me through
to the end. Supportive assistance was afforded by Lisa Robin! Gamini,
J
Tom! and a host of others, while the library staff at Aberdeen and st.
Andrews University Libraries kept me supplied with materials. To all of
these, and especially to Fiona, who saw me through it all, I say thank
you. However! as they only helped me bring the work together, I am the
one responsible for any mistakes.
Y.L.L
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Abstract ii
Declaration and Certification
111
Dedication iv
Acknowledgements vi
Table of Contents vii
List of Figures and Tables x
Abbreviations and Glossary xi
Preface xiv
Chapter One: Introduction 1
1. Thesis Aims and Goals 1
2. Literature Review 3
3. The Study of Terrorism 7
3.1 Definitions of Terrorism 9
3.2 Theoretical Approaches to Terrorism 10
3.3 The Concept of Identification 13
Chapter Two: Left-Wing Terrorism in the Federal Republic: History 18
1. Pre-Terrorism 18
Develo~TIents
1.1 The Student Movement 19
1.2 The Protest Movement 21
2. Terrorism in the Seventies 30
2.1 The Red Army Faction, 1970-74 30
2.11 The First Phase, 1968-1970 31
2.12 The Second Phase, 1970-1972 32
2.13 The Third Phase, 1972-1974 33
2.2 The Second of June Movement 37
2.3 The Revolutionary Cells 42
2.31 The Revolutionary Cells in Germany, 1973-1975 42
2.32 The Palestinian Connection, 1973-1977 43
2.4 The 'Second Generation', 1975-80 46
3. Terrorism in the Eighties and Beyond 51
3.1 'Euroterrorism' 51
3.2 State Sponsorship of West German Terrorism 56
3.3 The Red Army Faction 61
3.4 The Revolutionary Cells 66
3. 5 The Autonornen 68
4. Summary 70
V.J...J...J..
Chapter Three: Left-Wing Terrorism in the Federal Republic: Analysis 73
1. The Scale of Left-Wing Terrorism 73
2. Types 75
3. Issues Raised by Terrorist Attacks 79
3.1 The State 80
3.2 Anti-Imperialism 81
3.21 Support for the Third World 83
3.22 Finance and the 'Military Industrial Canplex' 86
3.3 Technology 88
3.4 Human Rights 89
3.5 Imprisoned Terrorists 91
3.51 Release of Prisoners 92
3.52 Hunger Strikes 93
4. Operational Timing of Terrorist Attacks 99
5. Summary 103
Chapter Four: Individuals and Terrorism 105
1. Individual Motivation 106
1.2 The 'Psychologically Disturbed' Model 109
1.3 The 'Rational-Idealist' Model 113
1.4 Identification: An Alternative Approach 114
2. Belief Systems 117
2.1 Solutions 118
2.2 Extremism and Death 119
2.3 Rationalisation and Guilt 121
2.4 Immunisation of Beliefs 122
3. The Individual in Left-Wing West Gennan Terrorism 124
3.1 The Psychological Question 124
3.2 Data on Left-wing West Gennan Terrorists 126
3.3 Social Origins 127
3.4 Discontinuity and Troubled Childhood 131
3.5 Socialisation away fran Home 136
3.6 Key Experiences and Persons 139
3.7 Available Options 147
3.8 Desertion and Leaving the Group 149
4. Summary 151
Chapter Five: Terrorist Group Dynamics 153
1. Theoretical Types of Terrorist Organisations 153
2. Group Beliefs 158
3. Paths Into West Gennan Terrorist Organisations 163
3.1 Group Benefits and Entering Processes 170
3.2 Group Hierarchy 175
3.3 Group Orientation: The Organisational Approach 180
3.4 Leaving the Group 188
4. Summary 193
Chapter Six: The Dynamics of Counterterrorism 195
1. Assumptions of Counterterrorism Policy 196
2. The Counterterrorism Policy Options in West Germany 198
3. Resourcing of Policy Implementation 204
3.1 Counterterrorism Resources 204
3.2 Antiterrorism Resources 216
4. Strengths and Limitations of Counterterrorism Policies 226
4.1 Counterterrorism Policies 226
4.2 Antiterrorism Policies 242
5. Summary 251
Chapter Seven: Terrorism, Public Opinion and the Media 253
1. The Public Response to Terrorism 254
2. Terrorism and the Media 258
3. Terrorism, Public Opinion, and the Media 263
3.1 The Instrumental Model 263
3.2 The Organisational Model 265
3.3 The Expressive Model 267
4. Terrorism! the Media and the Government 268
5. Summary 276
Chapter Eight: Conclusion 278
1. Theoretical Summary 278
2. Conclusion of Findings 280
2.1 Individuals 280
2.2 Groups 285
2.3 Government 289
2.4 Media 290
2.5 Conclusion 291
3. Practical Applications 292
4. Theoretical Applications 296
Appendicies
Chronology 298
Bibliography 309