ABSTRACT
Terrorism actually can be a strategy that is consciously chosen by political leaders instead of options such as negotiation, accommodation, propaganda, or open violence. A government action can be considered terrorism when the target group is the general population or part of the population and the government is attempting to influence or control the population. Governments can participate in terrorism when they permit and even support paramilitary groups, vigilante organizations, and semi-official groups that use violence to support government policies. One of the most deadly forms of state-assisted terrorism has been the activity of death squads—especially those that has been formed by police and military personnel. At least some types of government actions or government-supported actions undertaken in a domestic context can fall within a working definition of terrorism. Government repression and the use of terror by state agents against citizens have been fairly common throughout the world and throughout time.
