F nicholson the word terrorism has now lost all its meaning and value. She says their definition of terrorism is fairly inclusive. The cia uses the definition contained in title 22 of u. They may be done for a religious, political, or ideological goal, and uses illegal violence. Terrorism is an act carried out to achieve an inhuman and corrupt mufsid objective, and involving a threat to security of any kind, and violation of rights acknowledged by religion and mankind. A major threat or extreme violent action directed towards one person or a group of people, that is used to make a public statement to a certain group of people, a country, or the world in general. Terrorism definition is the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion. The matter of definition and conceptualization is usually a purely theoretical issuea mechanism for scholars to work out the appropriate set of parameters for the research they intend to undertake. Sep 20, 2016 what is terrorism, and is it getting worse. Terrorism definition of terrorism by merriamwebster. Marcs definition of terrorism contains 4 elements 1 first, terrorism is at root a violent act a. Most universally accepted definition there is no universally agreedon definition of terrorism.
At best, we have a most universally accepted definition of terrorism, which is the following. Government agencies are not in agreement about the technical definition of terrorism. Overview hoffman attempts to define what terrorism is by first examining why it is difficult to define. Many different types of social or political organizations might use terrorism to try to achieve their goals. Terrorism hoffman terrorism what is terrorism by bruce. Terrorism is the use of fear and acts of violence in order to intimidate societies, governments or against an ideology. A definition proposed by iran at an international islamic conference on terrorism. Terrorism definition, the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, especially for political purposes. Terrorism is the use of violence, especially murder and bombing, in order to achieve. Domestic terrorism is based and executed in the united states by our own. The term terrorist group means any group that practices, or. The use of violence or the threat of violence, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political goals. Terrorism is, in the broadest sense, the use of intentional violence for political or religious purposes.
Before examining the meaning and associated concepts and principles of international criminal justice and international criminal law as they. Others argue that much of the difficulty surrounding the definition of terrorism stems from the need to develop a concrete meaning of the term grobfitzgibbon. Department of homeland security dhs definition of terrorism. The key elements to terrorism are obvious to many violence, noncombatant targets, intention of spreading fear, and political aims. Definitions of terrorism and the canadian context memorializing. Apr 08, 2014 department of homeland security dhs definition of terrorism. Jan 07, 2006 the key elements to terrorism are obvious to many violence, noncombatant targets, intention of spreading fear, and political aims. While some definitions are precise, others lack important aspects of terrorism e. Terrorism meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. International terrorism violent, criminal acts committed by individuals andor groups who are inspired by, or associated with, designated foreign terrorist. My aim is rather to try for a definition that captures the trait, or traits, of terrorism which cause most of us to view it with moral repugnance.
Human rights, terrorism and counterterrorism ohchr. The word that now only means violence which isnt ours by e. Law enforcement generally recognizes two types of terrorism. Published in the official gazette on 12 april 1991. Academics james lutz and brenda lutz have crafted a short, insightful, useful, and broad introduction to the subject of terrorism, providing the basics in a time when such studies are in need and demand. 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. The definition of terrorism world news the guardian. International terrorism violent, criminal acts committed by individuals andor groups who are inspired by, or associated with, designated. Maybe it never had much in the first place but over the last 14 years it has become more and more of a blanket term that our governments carefully select as to who it gets used for and how best to use it to evoke fear in the public. Terrorism has no official criminal law definition at the international level.
Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. These aggrieved groups share two essential characteristics. Terror definition is a state of intense or overwhelming fear. Why it is not easy for the united nations to define terrorism. The term terrorism means premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents. Experts on terrorism also include another aspect in the definition. Thus, the determination of the rightdefinition of terrorism is subjective and not likely to be reached by. This definition states that terrorism is a violent act or an act dangerous to human life in violation of the criminal laws of the united states or of any state to intimidate or coerce a. The united nations ability to develop a comprehensive strategy has been constrained by the inability of member states to agree on an anti terrorism convention including a definition of terrorism. Terrorism is the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government or its citizens to further certain political or social objectives. It is a word with many different definitionssome legal, some political. Terrorism, the calculated use of violence to create a general climate of fear in a population and thereby to bring about a particular political objective. Definitions of terrorism are complex and controversial.
The term cyberterrorism is complex and combines two concepts. Therefore, the legal definition of terrorism may be seized by the figure of osama bin laden, and we may be startled that by the late twentieth century the only superpower in the world was required to go to war with a mere individual, but that does not change the fact that, for the most part, the definition of terrorism is closely linked. Terrorism act 2000, section 1 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 05 may 2020. Defining terrorism is one mans terrorist another mans. It is used in this regard primarily to refer to violence during peacetime or in the context of war against noncombatants mostly civilians and neutral military personnel. According to 6 uscs 101, the term terrorism is any activity thata involves an act thati is dangerous to human life or potentially destructive of critical infrastructure or key resources.
There is no universal agreement on the definition of terrorism. The principal actions aim to define and criminalise terrorist offences, prevent radicalisation and the spreading of terrorist propaganda, and to cut terrorists access. The term international terrorism means terrorism involving the territory or the citizens of more than one country. One refers to governments that support or conduct terrorism against other governments. The very word terrorism is charged with emotion, and politically loaded. Terrorism definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Code as politically motivated violence perpetrated in a clandestine manner against noncombatants. However, it did the correct thing by going around this problem. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. The unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property in order to coerce or intimidate a government or the civilian population in furtherance of political or social objectives. Army manual definition terrorism is the calculated use of unlawful violence or threat of unlawful. The director of a graduate program in homeland security debunks common misconceptions about the origins of political violence.
The patriot act provides a definition, but because there are no actual. In its broadest practical sense, terrorism is the use of violence to further a political or social cause. For an act to be considered terrorism, it has to be an intentional act or threat of violence that also meets two of three additional. The fbi acknowledges there is no single, universally accepted definition of terrorism, but builds from. In the united states, for instance, references to terrorism are made in numerous contextspecific federal statutes and regulations. It will do this by first outlining some characteristics of a working definition and will look at problems associated with creating a working definition for terrorism. May 07, 2001 interestingly, the american definition of terrorism is a reversal of the words original meaning, given in the oxford english dictionary as government by intimidation. A listing of the fbis most wanted individuals for terrorism. It has become something of a cliche to note that there are over 200 definitions of terrorism in existence within broader terrorism studies literature. Various legal systems and government agencies use different definitions. But crafting a watertight, commonly accepted definition has. This is the first article in the series france and tunisias war on terror.
What it is, and what it isnt the las vegas shooting has again raised questions about domestic terrorism. Counter terrorism and radicalisation european commission. Ali khan terrorism sprouts from the existence of aggrieved groups. The use of violence as a means of achieving a goal. It has been used to describe crimes as well as to discredit political opponents. Heisbourg in le monde, september 2001, and the title of his book. Common definitions of terrorism refer to violent acts which are intended to create fear terror. Terrorism definition of terrorism by the free dictionary. Domestic terrorism is based and executed in the united. The use of violence, threats, or intimidation to incite fear, or to coerce action, for political purposes. Terrorism simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
There are two broad definitions of statesponsored terrorism. Politics, by its nature, is adversarial, and thus any definition evokes adversarial disagreement. G overnments are often the targets of terrorism, but they can also sponsor terrorists or use the tactics of terrorism. The present definition of terrorism used in uk legal systems is to be found in section 1, terrorism act 2000,as amended4.
1138 1387 1333 1338 1403 537 702 238 829 908 983 81 1388 1558 1171 1359 1374 12 999 580 1493 1010 427 1386 385 302 663 154 806 12 364 1009 1012 54 1441 886 1262 457 880 1186 1419 1290