ABSTRACT
Foreign support of terrorist organizations can be direct, but much more often it is indirect or passive. Using the camouflage of a terrorist attack was important for government deniability since open acknowledgment of the attack was not possible. Most charges of state involvement in terrorist activities have involved situations in which foreign governments aided terrorist groups that already existed in some other country. Active state support can be very important in increasing the capacity of terrorist groups, expanding the geographical range of possible actions, and making their attacks more lethal. If the dissident political group resorted to violent attacks and terrorism, then it made sense to provide weapons, money, and a safe refuge. Both direct and indirect state sponsorship has important implications for the domestic terrorist activities. While great power conflicts explain much of the past state support for terrorist groups in other countries, states can develop animosities toward their neighbours that are independent of such larger conflicts.
