How can terrorist tactics affect public support for a guerrilla cause?

While guerrilla forces often rely on propaganda and terror to coerce support or destabilize governments, the use of extreme terrorist tactics—such as indiscriminate attacks on civilians—frequently alienates the public and undermines the guerrilla cause.123

The impact of these tactics on public support includes:

• Loss of Legitimacy: When guerrilla groups cross the line from combatants to common criminals by targeting civilians in places like shopping centers or transport hubs, they risk losing the sympathy of the general population, including those who may have been passively supportive.12
• Erosion of Financial and Moral Backing: The use of extreme terror can lead to a loss of international and domestic financial support. For example, the IRA experienced a decline in support from Irish Americans due to its use of indiscriminate violence.13
• Internal Fragmentation: The use of extreme tactics often causes deep divisions within movements, leading to splinter groups or the formation of "official" versus "provisional" wings as leaders debate the humanitarian and strategic costs of such violence.13
• Counterproductive Stigma: The resultant stigma of being labeled "terrorists" can outweigh any short-term psychological gains, as seen in the failure of Greek communist guerrillas who lost popular support due to their brutal treatment of civilians.13

Conversely, the use of excessive force by governments in response to these tactics can ironically drive moderates to sympathize with extremists, creating a cycle of violence that further complicates the conflict.14