ABSTRACT
The wide variety of techniques available to terrorist groups was discussed in the previous chapter. These techniques can be used against different targets, and no technique is unique to a particular type of target. The persons responsible for the attacks may seek to maximize property damage or cause casualties. The targets of the violence may be chosen because they have symbolic or shock value (Stern and Midi 2008: 29). Frequently a government is the underlying target for dissident organizations because of its leadership, policies, institutions, or state boundaries. The targets, moreover, can include property, the general public, some portion of the population, or specific groups of individuals. The target audiences and those chosen for the attacks usually are chosen because of their relationship to the government, but in some cases the target audiences reflect the agendas of other groups in society. The target audiences of government terrorism are generally similar, but there are some important differences with this type of terrorism.
