David C. Rapoport

Nations ruled by democratic governments may be more likely to face acts of terrorism than other countries, argues David C. Rapoport in the following viewpoint. He asserts that democratic principles may motivate terrorism because the right to vote and the freedom of speech do not give individuals as much political power as they might expect. Rapoport contends that people who disagree with the majority rule might feel marginalized and respond with terrorism. Rapoport is a professor emeritus in the political science department at the University of California at Los Angeles and the joint editor of Terrorism and Political Violence, a journal.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. Who were the first modern rebel terrorists, according to the author?
2. How much likelier is the development of terrorist groups in a democratic society, compared to a nondemocratic society, as cited by...