ABSTRACT
IDENTIFYING TRENDS IN TERRORISM In a world engaged in a “war on terrorism,” understanding the changes in the nature of terrorism and the responses to terrorist acts is vital. Terrorism continues to increase in diversity in terms of geography, demography, and method: Terrorist acts now occur in almost every nation, involve a widening range of ethnic communities, and employ an expanded arsenal of weapons. The redefinition of terrorism at the local, national, and international levels has made data collection and tracking of trends in this phenomenon difficult, contributing to disagreements over “who” the war is engaged against and what rules apply in this increasingly violent conflict. Unlike earlier U.S.-led “wars” on drugs or poverty, the war on terror is a violent conflict, making the establishment of a definition of the act of terrorism critically important. Let us first examine a few of the significant changes in terrorism highlighted in this text.
