Midterm Paper
RAF: background, goals and current status
Terrorism and Counterterrorism
, Introduction
This paper will give an overview of the West-German terrorist group the Rote Armee
Fraktion, where its emergence, development, demise and current states will be researched, as
well as its impact on West-German society. First, this paper will look at the academic and
societal relevance of studying the RAF. After that, the key elements in academic literature of
the emergence, development, demise and current status of the group will be researched. The
RAF’s impact on West-German politics and society will be explained as well. This will be
done by examining two articles from the course readings that are used to define terrorism and
position the RAF, written by Toros, and Parker and Sitter. Three other sources will be used to
provide a comprehensive overview of the group. Lastly, there will be a conclusion with
recommendations for further research.
Academic and societal relevance
Studying the Red Army faction holds significant academic and societal relevance. First of all,
it is relevant for terrorism studies to conduct research about the Red Army Faction, as the
RAF engaged in multiple acts of domestic terrorism. When examining their strategies, goals
and means, there can be insights developed into the revolution of terrorism. Policymakers can
react to this information by thinking about how these insights can help to establish better
policies (Toros, 2008). So, there can be lessons learned which support the further
development of counter-terrorism studies, policies and efforts, as the information on such
groups is significantly important for understanding how terrorist groups operate and think.
Understanding how groups or individuals shift to using political violence is a particular focus
in the field of counter-terrorism studies (Jackson, 2007).
Second, the historical context in which the RAF emerged, developed and operated can
be better understood when the Red Army Faction is studied as it provides socio-political
insights into the period where the RAF existed. The group was established in 1970, when
there was a period of social-political unrest and protests where students showed their
disagreement with the West-German authorities (Hager, 2011). Studying that period will lead
to insights about how certain groups radicalize to a terrorism group.
The Marxist ideologies and socio-political climate in Germany can be examined when
studying the RAF as well, as the RAF was a consequence of those ideologies and
socio-political upheavals in West-Germany (Gerhardt, 2018; Moghadam, 2012). So, studying
the RAF could be relevant for citizens for raising awareness on the historical context
Germany has experienced.
RAF: background, goals and current status
Terrorism and Counterterrorism
, Introduction
This paper will give an overview of the West-German terrorist group the Rote Armee
Fraktion, where its emergence, development, demise and current states will be researched, as
well as its impact on West-German society. First, this paper will look at the academic and
societal relevance of studying the RAF. After that, the key elements in academic literature of
the emergence, development, demise and current status of the group will be researched. The
RAF’s impact on West-German politics and society will be explained as well. This will be
done by examining two articles from the course readings that are used to define terrorism and
position the RAF, written by Toros, and Parker and Sitter. Three other sources will be used to
provide a comprehensive overview of the group. Lastly, there will be a conclusion with
recommendations for further research.
Academic and societal relevance
Studying the Red Army faction holds significant academic and societal relevance. First of all,
it is relevant for terrorism studies to conduct research about the Red Army Faction, as the
RAF engaged in multiple acts of domestic terrorism. When examining their strategies, goals
and means, there can be insights developed into the revolution of terrorism. Policymakers can
react to this information by thinking about how these insights can help to establish better
policies (Toros, 2008). So, there can be lessons learned which support the further
development of counter-terrorism studies, policies and efforts, as the information on such
groups is significantly important for understanding how terrorist groups operate and think.
Understanding how groups or individuals shift to using political violence is a particular focus
in the field of counter-terrorism studies (Jackson, 2007).
Second, the historical context in which the RAF emerged, developed and operated can
be better understood when the Red Army Faction is studied as it provides socio-political
insights into the period where the RAF existed. The group was established in 1970, when
there was a period of social-political unrest and protests where students showed their
disagreement with the West-German authorities (Hager, 2011). Studying that period will lead
to insights about how certain groups radicalize to a terrorism group.
The Marxist ideologies and socio-political climate in Germany can be examined when
studying the RAF as well, as the RAF was a consequence of those ideologies and
socio-political upheavals in West-Germany (Gerhardt, 2018; Moghadam, 2012). So, studying
the RAF could be relevant for citizens for raising awareness on the historical context
Germany has experienced.
