How do you define terrorism?

Question

What makes something terrorism? What defines it as such: its goals, or tactics? Was the US, when breaking off of Britain, engaging in terrorism? What about the carpet bombing of cities done by both sides in WWII?

Answer 1

Terrorism refers to a strategy of using violence, or threat of violence to generate fear, cause disruption, and ultimately, to bring about compliance with specific political, religious, ideological, and personal demands. The targets of terrorist attacks typically are not the individuals who are killed, injured, or taken hostage, but rather the societies to which these individuals belong. Terrorism is a type of unconventional warfare designed to weaken or supplant existing political landscapes through capitulation or acquiescence, as opposed to subversion or direct military action. The broader influence of terrorism in the modern world is often attributed to the dramatic focus of mass media in amplifying feelings of intense fear and anger.

State terrorism more specifically refers to violence and threats of violence, embargoes and other forms of terrorism against civilians by the government of a state. The civilians, in such case, may be nationals or foreigners.

Answer 2

Difficult to define and there are many ways to answer this question.

"One mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter" is often quoted but freedom fighters should be fighting the army, police and the like. When they start killing innocent civilians they automatically become terrorists.

Carpet bombing relates to war and is therefore by definition not terrorism even if it's aim is to terrorise.

An illustration on how difficult it is to define is 9/11. A terrorist attrocity it is true, but - and it is a big but - does it still qualify in simple terms as terrorism. Consider - the purpose of terrorism is to terrify and thereby cow the country or its people into submission. Whilst 9/11 caused some terror it was so huge that shock and outrage quickly replaced terror. Worst for the terrorist the fact that it was so huge gave people something they could understand and fight back against. Al Quida, the Taliban, Iraq all suffered severely because of it. So although it started out as terrorism in many ways it turned into a legitimate war and lost it's ability to terrorise the population.

In the modern world thinking people now realise that terrorism not only does not work but that it actually harms the cause it seeks to promote. The IRA in Ireland, ETA in Spain and many other groups have given up on violence and are seeking their goals through peaceful means.

Sadly there are a lot of people in the third world who are not intelligent or articulate enough to folow this path. There are also many, particularly in Iraq who are in it simply for the enjoyment of killing and battle.

No simple answer here, but I hope I have shed a light on a small corner of the answer.

Answer 3

terrorism can not be defined very definately.
there are a lot of gray areas.
which is why the Bush regime decided to wage a war against the middle east called the " 'war' on terrorism". anything that they dislike, they just say that it poses a threat to american freedom. or if they want to pass something, the people that stand up against it are called "terrorists" or "unpatriotic".

Answer 4

Terrorism is the deliberate targetting of civilians in a non combatant society in order to achieve political ends.

Answer 5

Well the best thing that was ever said to me was "the difference between a freedom fighter and a terrorist is a political point of view."

And i must say i agree with this, but a terrorist in the best part is someone who attacks another social structure with a certain extreme idea behind it.

Answer 6

Terroism comes from when the jews after the second world war
decided Palestine belonged to them.They murdered many U.N
soldiers hence forcing U.N. to draw out,now look what they have only they are now reconised has a state

Answer 7

Any act of violence on a civilian population of another country is to my mind an act of terrorism.

Answer 8

If you are not part of a specific military branch of a country and you use violence as a means to hurt or intimidate people you are a terrorist. If you use it and you are part of a nation's military then it is an act of war.

Answer 9

Some people resort to suicide bombing and guerilla warfare which is pretty scarey, however, some invade countries to protect thier own oil supplies and that's truly terrifying.

Answer 10

Perfect question. And what is terrorism done by an individual and by state...