ABSTRACT
Exactly what is terrorism? For Americans, sinceSeptember 11, the term has become especiallyloaded, and is sometimes used to describe acts that are, by widely accepted definition, not terrorism. Even worldwide, the term has come to have such heavy rhetorical value that politicians and other leaders have been known to label the actions of their opponents as “terrorist acts.” Some actions do qualify as terrorism, and some don’t. Often terrorism is seen as dissident bands of unknown individuals striking innocent targets. Other times it is defined as the psychological intimidation inherent in a threat or an act of violence. Clearly, the word is difficult to pin down-but a basic definition can encompass the components that all societies find agreement on. Definitions of Terrorism There are several variations on the definition of terrorism; the following quotes are provided to show those differences. U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation “The unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.” U.S. Department of State “Premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by sub-national groups or clandestine agents, usually intended to influence an audience.” U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) “The calculated use of violence or threat of violence to inculcate fear, intended to coerce or to intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of goals that are general-
ly political, religious or ideological.” U.S. DoD Directive 2000.12H “The calculated use of violence or threat of violence to attain goals-political, religious or ideological in nature-by instilling fear or using intimidation or coercion. Terrorism involves a criminal act, often symbolic in nature, intended to influence an audience beyond the immediate victims.” U.S. Code “Premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by sub-national groups or clandestine agents.” United Nations “Terrorism is a unique form of crime. Terrorist acts often contain elements of warfare, politics and propaganda. For security reasons and due to lack of popular support, terrorist organizations are usually small, making detection and infiltration difficult. Although the goals of terrorists are sometimes shared by wider constituencies, their methods are generally abhorred.” British Government “Terrorism is the use of serious violence against persons or property, or the threat to use such violence, to intimidate or coerce a government, the public, or any section of the public for political, religious or ideological ends. The term serious violence would need to be defined so that it included serious disruption, for instance resulting from attacks on computer installations or public utilities.” Russian Federation Law 130 FZ to Fight Terrorism “Terrorism is violence or the threat of violence against individuals or organizations, and also the destruction (damaging) of or threat to destroy (damage) property and other material objects, such as threaten to cause loss of life, significant damage to property, or other socially dangerous consequences and are implemented with a view to violating public security, intimidating the population, or influencing the adoption of decisions advantageous to terrorists by organs of power, or satisfying their unlawful material and (or) other interests; attempts on the lives of statesmen or public figures perpetrated with a view to ending their state or other political activity or out
of revenge for such activity; attacks on representatives of foreign states or staffers of international organizations enjoying international protection, and also on the official premises or vehicles of persons enjoying international protection if these actions are committed with a view to provoking war or complicating international relations.” The Terrorism Recognition Handbook’s Definition
Terrorism is the calculated use of criminal violence or threat of violence by a covert or overt individual, group, entity, special-interest organization, or government agency specifically designed to target people, commerce, and/or infrastructures soley for political advantage.
