Oct 29, 2009 there is no official definition of terrorism agreed on throughout the world, and definitions tend to rely heavily on who is doing the defining and for what purpose. There are two broad definitions of statesponsored terrorism. These aggrieved groups share two essential characteristics. An attack can be rooted in religious, social, or political conflicts such as when one community is oppressed by another. It also replaced parts of the criminal justice terrorism and conspiracy act 1998.
A listing of the fbis most wanted individuals for terrorism. International terrorism violent, criminal acts committed by individuals andor groups who are inspired by, or associated with, designated foreign terrorist. The definition of terrorism has proved controversial. Jan 07, 2006 the key elements to terrorism are obvious to many violence, noncombatant targets, intention of spreading fear, and political aims. Any definition of terrorism should differentiate it from the struggle for selfdetermination of peoples. The international community remains divided over a universally acceptable definition of terrorism. Terrorist definition is an advocate or practitioner of terrorism as a means of coercion. Ive often written that terrorism is the most meaningless, and thus most manipulated, term in american political discourse. We tried to explain what terrorism is, its history as well as about many terrorist organizations in a shortest possible. The terms terrorist and terrorism originated during the french revolution of the late 18th century but gained. One refers to governments that support or conduct terrorism against other governments.
Experts on terrorism also include another aspect in the definition. Some definitions focus on terrorist tactics to define the term, while others focus on the actor. Terrorism definition, the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, especially for political purposes. Terrorism can take multiple forms and have many causes, often more than one. Right wing terrorism is characterized by attacks aimed at liberaldemocratic governments and minority groups within them. Risk and liability, says cruise ships and ferry lines need more protection against terrorism attacks because they meet terrorists prerequisites for an attack. Using case studies, participants discuss what makes something a terrorist act, and formulate a definition of terrorism.
The terrorist attack on world trade center and pentagon has given a new dimension to terrorism. The definition of terrorism in article 1 of antiterror law 37 is. It is for this reason that a comparison is necessary to clarify the scope of the operation of the terrorism risk insurance programmes. Groups and individuals within these movements carry out attacks that are generally aimed at two kinds of targets. 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.
Code as politically motivated violence perpetrated in a clandestine manner against noncombatants. Unfortunately, research on terrorism is patchy but some lessons have been learned, often painfully e. Definition of terrorist a person who uses unlawful violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims. Loosely defined, terrorism is the use of violence to further a political or ideological goal at the expense of the general population. Central intelligence agency cia definition of terrorism the intelligence community is guided by the definition of terrorism contained in title 22 of the us code, section 2656fd. The key elements to terrorism are obvious to many violence, noncombatant targets, intention of spreading fear, and political aims. Premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by subnational groups or clandestine. Yet, each type of network or terrorist cell has criminal intentions limited by.
The definition of terrorism will affect communication and response to this issue and so have consequences for society and politics. Department of homeland security dhs definition of terrorism. Ive often written that terrorism is the most meaningless, and thus most manipulated, term in american. 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 fbi defines terrorism as the unlawful use of force and violence.
Using the definition preferred by the state department, terrorism is. One is that the lack of a definition may faciliate the politicization and misuse of the term terrorism to curb nonterrorist or sometimes even noncriminal activities. Terrorist definition of terrorist by merriamwebster. The manner, in which the terrorist attack was launched, had shaken the entire world in general and united states of america in particular. 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. First many try and achieve some sort of political or social change involving the expulsion or degradation of. Violent, criminal acts committed by individuals andor groups to further ideological goals stemming from domestic influences, such as those of a political, religious, social. While there are many national and regional definitions, there is no universal legal definition approved by the general assembly of the united nations the one proposed by the security council in res.
Patchily definition, characterized by or made up of patches. To date, the international community has failed to agree on a. Interestingly, the american definition of terrorism is a reversal of the words original meaning, given in the oxford english dictionary as government by. Army manual definition terrorism is the calculated use of unlawful violence or threat of unlawful. Terrorism definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Political religious ethnic social examples of terrorist attacks car bombs shooting and other. Various legal systems and government agencies use different definitions of terrorism. Terrorism is any kind of act done by one or more persons belonging to an organization with the aim of changing the characteristics of the republic as specified in the constitution, its political, legal, social, secular and economic system, damaging the indivisible unity of the state with its territory and nation, endangering the existence of the turkish state and republic, weakening or destroying or seizing the authority.
The definition of terrorism varies by jurisdiction and has morphed over. Despite broad consensus that the threat of terrorism needs to be addressed urgently, the positions adopted by individual countries, regional and international organisations have resulted in a patchwork of approaches. Moreover, the international community has been slow to formulate a universally agreed. The revised academic consensus definition of terrorism by alex p. Terrorism is a politically motivated crime intended to modify the behavior of a target audience. But crafting a watertight, commonly accepted definition has. Terrorism is the use of violence, especially murder and bombing, in order to achieve. The term terrorism means premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents. Terrorism definition of terrorism by merriamwebster. Why it is not easy for the united nations to define terrorism. The difficulty in defining terrorism is in agreeing on a basis for determining when the use of violence. Nov 27, 2003 terrorism is defined by title 22 of the u.
Ali khan terrorism sprouts from the existence of aggrieved groups. Forms of terrorism threats range from nonstate transnational networks with global reach capability such as alqaida, terrorist cells affiliated with regional or international aims, or individual selfradicalized and unaffiliated terrorists with single issue agendas. The many definitions of terrorism war against terror. He said islam had nothing to do with the instigation of harm to innocent peoples. Terrorism is, in the broadest sense, the use of intentional violence for political or religious purposes. There is no official definition of terrorism agreed on throughout the world, and definitions tend to rely heavily on who is doing the defining and for what purpose.
It is defined as the use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims. The use of violence, threats, or intimidation to incite fear, or to coerce action, for political purposes. Oct 07, 2005 any definition of terrorism should differentiate it from the struggle for selfdetermination of peoples. Information and translations of terrorism in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. Schmid the definition of terrorism terrorism is a contested concept. While there are many national and regional definitions, there is no universal legal definition approved by the general assembly of the united nations the one. The present definition of terrorism used in uk legal systems is to be found in section 1, terrorism act 2000,as amended4. 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. The use of violence as a means of achieving a goal.
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 o. For a better understanding of the definition of terrorism in the draft law, one needs to look at how this term is defined globally. Before examining the meaning and associated concepts and principles of international criminal justice and international criminal law as they. The revised academic consensus definition of terrorism.
However, it did the correct thing by going around this problem. It is for this reason that a comparison is necessary to clarify the scope ofthe operation of. A terrorist may be motivated by religious fervor, politics, or just plain oldfashioned greed. Various legal systems and government agencies use different definitions. Under section 2 of the homeland security act of 2002. Definitions of terrorism wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The damage would be highly visible, would kill many people, would destroy costly property and would interrupt trade. 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. Yet, each type of network or terrorist cell has criminal intentions limited by finite capability. The implications of the absence of a universal definition of terrorism for legal purposes are wideranging. 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. This subtitle subtitle g 66016604 of title vi of pub. Terrorism definition is the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion. Over 100 definitions of terrorism have been advanced.
Terrorism meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. There have been some definitional differences in the use of the terms terrorism and act of terrorism between oecd countries. It superseded and repealed the prevention of terrorism temporary provisions act 1989 and the northern ireland emergency provisions act 1996. Definitions of terrorism are complex and controversial. Someone who uses violence, mayhem, and destruction or the threat of those things to coerce people or countries into taking a certain action is a terrorist. 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. Jan 29, 2020 loosely defined, terrorism is the use of violence to further a political or ideological goal at the expense of the general population. There is no universal agreement on the definition of terrorism.
Definition of terrorism social and political effects. This is primarily due to diverging views on what constitutes terrorism, as. It is for this reason that a comparison is necessary to clarify the scope ofthe operation of the terrorism risk insurance programmes. The definition of terrorism world news the guardian. Apr 08, 2014 department of homeland security dhs definition of terrorism. The very word terrorism is charged with emotion, and politically loaded.
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