ABSTRACT
This chapter’s inquiry has three facets. It begins by explaining why the term “terrorism” lacks conceptual clarity. The dynamics of modern terrorism (religious, ethnic, nationalist, ideological, criminal, and state-sponsored terrorism) arguably renders any agreed-upon universal terminology impossible. The chapter next examines counterterrorism and the challenges it poses in the absence of well-defined tactics and clearly defined targets. One such challenge is the pervasive use of drone technology as a new tool of counterterrorism. Given that foreign military interventions tend to worsen the risk of future terrorism, the use of drones has gained much traction. Arguably, the focus of counterterrorism should shift to the “battle of ideas” while simultaneously confronting terrorism on the battlefield.
