What is the definition of terrorism?

Answer 1

Terrorism requires a multi-part definition with six distinct parts that should be read together as a sentence:

(1) an act by a person or group or organization who
(2) uses violence
(3) against civilian populations
(4) in order to provoke fear among that civilian population
(5) in order to instigate for political change in the country where the civilians were attacked
(6) in line with the preferences of the person or group or organization who used the violence.

If any part of this definition is not satisfied, then it is not terrorism. Often people confuse the term "insurrectionist" or "rebel" with a "terrorist". An "insurrectionist" or "rebel" does not have (3) or (4) in the definition. "Insurrectionists" and "Rebels" jump from (2) straight to (5). This is why we never hear American Revolution stories of Colonial soldiers bombing innocent people's homes with the intent of spreading fear of Colonial acts as pressure to abandon the United Kingdom. While there were acts of property damage, like the Boston Tea Party, these had no intentional deaths. Terrorism requires the deaths of civilians and for the person who committed the terrorism to be of a reasonable belief that his attack would kill civilians and support it anyway.

Answer 2

Terrorism is the systematic use of threats and violence, especially as a means of coercion, often for political purposes. The international community has presently been unable to formulate a universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition of terrorism. Common definitions of terrorism refer only to violent acts which are intended to create fear (terror), are perpetrated for an ideological goal, and deliberately target or disregard the safety of unarmed citizens.

Some definitions also include acts of war and unlawful violence. Individual terrorists tend to be motivated more by a desire for social solidarity with other members of their organization instead of political platforms or strategic objectives, which are often murky and undefined.

Since the word "terrorism" is emotionally and politically charged, this adds greatly to the difficulty of providing a precise definition. Because of this, there are over 100 definitions of "terrorism". The concept of terrorism may itself be controversial since it is often used by state authorities to harm the reputations of their political or other opponents, and potentially legitimize the state's own use of armed force against opponents. Such use of force could just as easiliy be described as "terror" by opponents of the state. An alternative term of violent non-state actor is less politically and emotionally charged, and easier to define. However, the semantic scope of this term includes not only "terrorists," but excludes some individuals or groups who have previously been described as "terrorists".

Many political organizations have practiced terrorism to further their objectives. It has been practiced by both conservative and liberal political parties, nationalistic groups, revolutionaries, religious groups, and ruling governments. One form is the use of violence against unarmed bystanders for the purpose of gaining publicity for a person, cause, or group.

Answer 3

Terrorism means "the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce."