The persistence of this type of political violence in the 1990s, however, not only belied many assumptions about its causes but also led scholars to reexamine the phenomenon. Pdf economic performance and terrorist activity in latin. Islamic terrorism in latin america center for security policy. Islamic terrorism in latin america center for security. In a speech to the us house of representatives, douglas farah of the international assessment and strategy center iasc discusses the farcs alliances with foreign terrorist groups. Transnational criminal and terrorist groups in latin america are a threat to the. Differences exist within and between these subregions in terms of both technological capabilities and nonproliferation and terrorism. Terrorism issues december 15, 2016 open pdf 842 kb compared to other parts of the world, the potential threat emanating from terrorism is low in most countries in latin america.
The convergence of iransponsored radical islam with transnational organized crime in latin america is a serious threat to the national security of the united states, especially in the triborder. Although the study of terrorism in general is rife with definitional disagreements and overlap of different types of violence, the study of terrorism in latin america is especially challenged by these issues. This article is an edited portion of a longer january 25, 2010 crs report, latin america. As part of liberty mutual insurance, we are a leader in writing sabotage and terrorism coverage, and our team of professionals can help protect your clientsand their businessesin situations that seem unmanageable. In the overall iranian view, latin america is a secondary arena.
Set in the larger context of the evolution of international human rights, this cogent book examines the tragic development and ultimate resolution of latin america s human rights crisis of the 1970s and 1980s. This project examined the organizational origin and development. Over the years, there has been disturbing information about the presence of radical islamic terrorist groups in latin america. In the aftermath of the september 2001 terrorist attacks on new york and. An overview over the years, the united states has been concerned about threats to latin american and caribbean nations from various terrorist or insurgent groups that have attempted to influence or overthrow elected governments. It is used in this regard primarily to refer to violence during peacetime or in the context of war against noncombatants mostly civilians and neutral military personnel. Findings indicate that nongovernmental terrorist acts in latin. International terrorism, foreign investment and tourism in latin america 323 volume 31, number 3, fall 2006 may have greater publicityvalue than an attack in the home country. For years, nongovernmental terrorism in latin america was considered an epiphenomenon of the cold war. Terrorism issues congressional research service 1 terrorism in latin america. Chile, argentina, and international human rights latin american silhouettes.
For the purposes of this overview, the latin america and caribbean region includes the thirtytwo states in central america, south america and the caribbean. This report provides an overview of issues relevant to the implementation of the united nations global counter terrorism strategy in the western hemisphere, paying particular attention to the latin america and caribbean region lacr. Pdf terrorism and antiterrorism in south america with a. Politics, criminality and terrorism in latin america i n latin america, the activities of drug cartels, terrorist groups and rogue states have increased as revolutionary regimes such as venezuela and its allies in ecuador, bolivia and nicaragua took the reins of power in the last decade. Pdf on jan 1, 2012, diego tarapues and others published terrorism and antiterrorism in south. Thomas wright focuses especially on state terrorism in chile under general augusto pinochet 19731990 and in argentina during the dirty war 19761983. Terrorism is, in the broadest sense, the use of intentional violence for political or religious purposes.
In the first of those two decades, the region experienced more terrorist attacks 17,293 than all other regions combined,643, and nearly four times as many as the next most active regionwestern europe 4,729. Terrorism is often heavily driven by ideology, but it also is often a reaction to major shifts in population, ethnic and sectarian. The americas report has published several articles regarding this subject including a recent article on how terrorists have and could use fake or doctored passports to enter the united states to carry out attacks. Brazils intensified focus on countering terrorist threats and related illicit activities in the runup to the rio olympics has not overlooked the long history of hezbollah terrorist and criminal activities in the country. Its principle venues for widespread subversion and terrorism are iraq, syria, lebanon, the palestinian arena, central and southeast asia, the persian gulf and sudan. America are more likely to occur in poorly institutionalized regimes characterized by varying degrees. Violence and terrorism in latin america in a global context author. In latin america the reliance on terror for political andor military goals is fairly old. The primary perpetrators of terrorism in the americas are colombian narcoterrorists and radical leftist groups in the andes u. Terrorism and antiterrorism in south america with a special consideration of argentina, chile and colombia.
Chile, argentina, and international human rights latin american silhouettes wright, thomas on. Reassessing the causes of nongovernmental terrorism in latin. Latin america and the caribbean 1540 reporting analysis. Mar 12, 2009 over the years, there has been disturbing information about the presence of radical islamic terrorist groups in latin america. A section in the terrorism reports on latin america noted that in 2011 there were no known operational cells of either alqaida or hizballah in the hemisphere, although ideological. This edited volume explores political violence and genocide in latin america during the cold war, examining this in light of the united states hegemonic position on the continent. These insurgents channel their terrorist activity against the authoritarian democracies they live under. The second graphic is a snapshot of terrorism in latin america in 20. Aml challenges politics, criminality and terrorism in. Russias recently appointed envoy to argentina has submitted a plan designed to combat what he calls terrorism in latin america, warning of foreign plots against the region.
World opinion on terrorism council on foreign relations. Since the september 2001 terrorist attacks on new york and washington, u. Wright draws from extensive personal interviews as well as scholarly resources to explore the impact of state terrorism in latin america between l970 and 1990. Russia hands over plan to fight against terrorism in. Terrorist and organized crime groups in the triborder.
Terrorism and anti terrorism in south america with a special consideration of argentina, chile and colombia. A global overview of narcoticsfunded terrorist and other. An overview hudson institute august 24 th 2017 gustavo tarre. The annual patterns of global terrorism report, released april 2004 by the secretary of state and the coordinator for counterterrorism, is submitted in compliance with title 22 of the united states code, section 2656fa, which requires the department of state to provide congress a full and complete annual report on terrorism for those countries and groups. Pdf it has been suggested that terrorist attacks can have serious economic consequences for the countries where the attacks occur. Terrorism issues congressional research service 2 terrorism in latin america. Nowadays, terror in latin america seems mostly circumscribed to colombia. Order code rs21049 updated january 14, 2005 crs report. And money freed up by the iran deal will only make things worse. Order code rs21049 updated january 14, 2005 crs report for. The social determinants of terrorist organizations. Terrorist actors on a nuclear stage 112 terrorism in latin america is almost completely characterized by domestic, guerrilla insurgents.
Hisham alqarawi, has binladin made an alliance with mughanniyah in latin america. Terrorism issues congressional research service summary since the september 2001 terrorist attacks on new york and washington, u. Order code rs21049 updated january 14, 2005 latin america. The united states has at various times in recent history provided support to terrorist and paramilitary organizations around the world. Jul 15, 2014 as we see in the chart, global terrorism has migrated from western europe in the 1970s, to latin america in the 1980s and 1990s, and to the middle east and south asia where it currently resides. Its past, present and future prospects 153 pol pots cambodia, and several other dictatorships and totalitarian regimes.
Aug 14, 2012 this is an important distinction to make, as the threat of terrorism in latin america has become a major talking point in us policymaking circles. Narcoticsfunded terrorist extremist groups in latin america 11 by rex a. In the 1980s and 1990s, latin america was the epicenter of global terrorism. Latin america is a hotbed of islamic terrorism where groups like isis and hezbollah operate freely and raise large sums of money to finance terrorist activities in other countries, mainly the united states, according to a new report released by spains defense ministry. Nongovernmental terrorism in latin america since the. May 11, 2017 dallas, texas prweb may 11, 2017 the threat from islamic extremists in latin america remains an overlooked aspect of u. United states and statesponsored terrorism wikipedia. In addition to islamic terrorist groups, the tba provides a haven that is geographically, socially, economically, and politically highly conducive for allowing organized crime and the. Sullivan specialist in latin american affairs foreign affairs, defense, and trade division summary in the aftermath of the september 2001 terrorist attacks on new york and washington d. It has also provided assistance to numerous authoritarian regimes that have used state terrorism as a tool of repression. Hezbollahs terrorism finance operations are thriving across latin america months after the drug enforcement administration linked the iranbacked lebanese militant group to. Latin america represents an important region for islamic radicalism because conditions enable. What is the real threat of islamic terrorism in latin america.
Terrorism, the school of the americas, and the military in latin america gregory weeks introduction for years, scholars and policy makers alike have argued whether using the armed forces of latin america to combat internal threats poses a threat to democracy. The americas report has published several articles regarding this subject including a recent article on how terrorists have and could use fake or. The terms terrorist and terrorism originated during the french revolution of the late 18th century but gained. We cover a wide variety of terrorism risks across a broad section of industries throughout latin america. Iran and hezbollah remain hyperactive in latin america. Concerns over the years, the united states has been concerned about threats to latin american and caribbean nations from various terrorist or insurgent groups that have attempted to influence or overthrow elected governments. Terrorism in colombia has occurred repeatedly for the last several decades, largely in part due to the ongoing armed conflict the country has been involved in since 1964.
Terrorist and organized crime groups in the triborder area. Using case studies based on the regimes of argentina, chile, guatemala, peru and uruguay, this book shows how. Latin america as a terrorist, subversive, criminal arena for. Islamic terrorism in latin america the americas report. Iranian and hezbollah operations in south america then and now by matthew levitt s ince at least the early 1980s, iran has operated an intelligence network in latin america hezbollah soon followed suit.
It noted that hezbollah fundraising activities in areas of latin america, which remained an important regional nexus of arms, narcotics, pirated goods, human smuggling, counterfeiting and money. Definitions of war, torture, and terrorism in latin america. Aml challenges politics, criminality and terrorism in latin. Triborder region argentina, brazil, and paraguay, colombia, and peru. A report prepared by the federal research division, library of congress. Pdf terrorism and antiterrorism in south america with a special. With roots in latin america, hezbollah is the real terror.
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