A Fifth Wave of Terrorism? The Emergence of Terrorist Semi-States

ABSTRACT

Drawing on Rapoport’s four waves thesis, this study asks whether the emergence of terrorist semi-states (TSS) in the 21st-century MENA region and Pakistan mean that we are seeing the beginning of a new (fifth) wave. We define a TSS as a rebel group that a) has control over portions of a weak state’s territory, maintaining governance there; b) but still launches terrorist attacks against third-party states. To be considered a fifth wave, the new terrorism phenomenon at hand must both fit Rapoport’s criteria of a wave (be global, have the same driving force) and also be significantly different from the prior wave. Clearly, the TSSs are different from the religious terror groups of the fourth wave in key respects: they prioritize territorial control, they engage in a much wider array of governance activities (not just social services), most of their victims have been members of the same religion—namely, Muslims (which suggests that they are driven more by the pursuit of power than by Jihad); and finally, their behavior (though not their statements) shows they have a local rather than a universal agenda. The main counter-argument is that TSSs are all Islamic and have so far not been exported globally.     

ON CHINA-US-JAPAN TRILATERAL RELATIONS——A Comment on Their Recent Exchanges of Top-level Visits

Aperiod of time between the golden autumn of 1997 and the flowery spring of1998 can be deemed as a "season of diplomacy" for the three Pacific-rimcountries of China, America and Japan. Japanese Prime Minister RyutaroHashimoto's visit to China in September 1997 and that to be made by PresidentJiang Zemin next year will go down as significant events in the diplomatic history of     

The Trouble with Terror: The Apologetics of Terrorism—a Refutation

This essay warns against a recent philosophical confusion concerning the definition of “terrorism,” which has dominated the post 9/11 literature. Terrorism, it is suggested, is nothing but the intentional random murder of defenseless non-combatants, with the intent of instilling fear of mortal danger amidst a civilian population as a strategy designed to advance political ends. Furthermore, this essay argues that regardless of its “root cause,” terrorism is diametrically opposed to the requirements of liberal morality and can only be defended at the expense of relinquishing the most basic of liberal commitments.     

She has ″China Complex″ All Her Life——A story of an American friend

Shewasanordi-naryandcom-monperson.Asa″whiteangel″shecametoYan-anChinafromtheothersideoftheoceanwithayounggirl'sdream.Shespentonlyoneyeartherebuther″Chinacomplex″hadbeenwithherfortensofyearsuntilshediedattheageof72inBeijingin1991.ShewasanurseoftheNo.19medicalteamoftheAmericanFriendsServiceCommitteeAF-SCnamedMargaretStanley.TheChinesepeople'santi-Japanesewarreceivedsupportandaidfrommanyforeignpartiesorgani-zationsandfriendlypersonages.ManyforeignfriendscametoYan-anincludingjournalist…     

She has “China Complex” All Her Life——A story of an American friend

She was an ordinary and common person. As a “white angel” she came to Yan-an China,from the other side of the ocean with a young girl‘s dream. She spent only oneyear there, but her “China complex” had been with her for tens of years, until she died at the age of 72 in Beijing in 1991.     

Enhancing Understanding for Friendship and Win.win Cooperation——A Reunion with an Old Friend of CAFIU

<正>This April,I paid a visit to New Zealand as a member of the CAFIU delegation headed by VicePresident Ai Ping.One of the highlights of this successful visit was our reunion with an old friend of CAFIU.