Citation

Taylor S. Terrorism Polit. Violence 2023; 35(2): 304-320.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/09546553.2021.1916478

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Defining state-terrorism is a contentious endeavor, with notably analytical impediments. Presented here is a definitive case of state-terrorism. As part of an effort to maintain the status quo of white hegemonic control, in 1979 the Apartheid state in South Africa created a police unit, known as Vlakplaas. Drawing from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Final Report, clear evidence is presented demonstrating the Apartheid government's use of Vlakplaas as an instrument of terrorism in order to instill terror in targeted audiences and to allay fears of the white electorate. As resistance to the status quo strengthened, so too did the terrorism methods used to maintain it. The methods used by Vlakplaas operatives included forms of violence that arguably ought to be considered state-terrorism--abductions, detentions, and torture--and methods traditionally associated with orthodox terrorism--bombings and killings.

Language: en

Keywords

Apartheid; South Africa; state-terrorism; Terrorism