Origins of International Counterterrorism

Aviva Guttmann, Ph.D. (2016), is a Research Fellow at King’s College London, Department of War Studies. Her research is financed by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). She has been a visiting scholar at the Johns Hopkins University – SAIS Europe

• AcknowledgementsAbbreviationsIntroductionFrom Bystander to Shaper of European Counterterrorism CooperationMethod and SourcesDefining “Terrorism”International Terrorism and the Global Cold WarState Security and the Culture of the Cold War in SwitzerlandPart 1. Compliance, Coordination, and Censorship: Switzerland’s Response to Palestinian and Brazilian Terrorism1 Switzerland and Palestinian Terrorism: The 1969 Kloten Airport Attack and the 1970 Skyjack SundayMeticulously Prepared Crisis MismanagementSwiss Policymakers’ Role during the Crisis ManagementSummary of Swiss Reactions to Palestinian Terrorism2 Switzerland and Brazilian Terrorism: The Abduction of Ambassador Bucher (1970–71)After Zarqa, Now RioFirst Round in the “War of the Nerves”—Unmaking of Swiss PolicySecond Round in the “War of the Nerves”—Limited OptionsThe Protracted Last Phase of the CrisisControlling the Kidnapping’s Media CoverageThe Swiss Authorities’ Threat Evaluation after the “Bucher Crisis”Summary of Swiss Reactions to Brazilian TerrorismConclusions of Part 1: A Comparison of Crisis ManagementPart 2. At the Forefront through the Backdoor: Switzerland’s Counterterrorism DiplomacyThe Working Group on Terrorism and its ContextThe WGT: The Start of Swiss Counterterrorism Policymaking3 Swiss Counterterrorism Diplomacy at the ICAO: “An Elegant Way of Doing Nothing”Preparations for Rome: Constructive ObstructionThe Limit of Enhancing Aviation Security Laws4 Swiss Counterterrorism Diplomacy at the UN: A Fastidiously Balanced PositionDrafting of the Swiss Position at the UNThe Swiss Position at the UNUN Counterterrorism Efforts Deadlocked5 Swiss Counterterrorism Diplomacy at the CoE: Experts “Making” Foreign PolicyThe “Non-Beginning” of the ConventionThe ECCP Accelerates the ProcessNew Terrorist Attacks, Renewed Counterterrorism EffortsThe Police against the Rest: Inner Swiss NegotiationsRevision, Fast-Track, and Finalisation of the ECSTFrance against the Rest: The CoE NegotiationsFrench Decision-Making: Worrying About the Third WorldReinsertion of the Political Offence ClauseECST: Success or Dead Letter?The WGT: An OverviewConclusions of Part 2: Swiss Counterterrorism Policymaking in Multilateral ForaPart 3. In Defiance of Neutrality: Switzerland’s Secret Counterterrorism CooperationThe Club de Berne6 A Secret Counterterrorism Alliance: Intelligence-Sharing within the Club de Berne (1971–1972)Suspect Profiling: The Conspicuous TravellerPolitical Activists as Terrorist SuspectsTracing Terrorist OrganisationsTerrorist Innovations in Weaponry and TacticsPerpetrated Terrorist Attacks and the Lessons LearntThreat Assessments and Concrete WarningsSummary of One Year of Kilowatt CooperationConclusions of Part 3: A Glimpse into the Club de Berne in the 1980sConclusionsCrisis Management Shaping Swiss Counterterrorism PolicySwiss Counterterrorism Policymaking in the 1970sSwiss Counterterrorism Intelligence CooperationResearch Avenues and ReflectionsHow and Why Countries CooperatedNo Democratic OversightPolitics of the Latest OutrageSwiss Neutrality and Relations with the Third WorldFurther Research in Terrorism StudiesSummary and OutlookBibliographyAppendixesAppendix 1: PFLP Propaganda MaterialAppendix 2: UN Resolution 3034, 18.12.1972Appendix 3: European Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism, 27.01.1977Index

“Auch wenn man aus realpolitischer Sicht diese negative Bewertung nicht unbedingt teilen muss, so handelt es sich bei Guttmanns Studie zweifellos um einen wichtigen Beitrag zur weiteren Erforschung der nach aussen hin eher vorsichtig und hinter den Kulissen aktiver betriebenen Politik der Dynamisierung der Berner Diplomatie in den 1970er Jahren.” ---- Philip Rosin, Potsdam, in: Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Geschichte (2022)72 (2): pp.329-330