Terrorism Defined

            In chapter one of the book Terrorism and Homeland Security by Jonathan R. White, terrorism is explained in many diverse ways. Certain problems exist when trying to define the word terrorism. Since terrorism is defined differently by almost everyone, actually putting a definition with the word can be difficult and dangerous. There are various things to take into account when trying to define terrorism.

            Why is defining terrorism complicated? H. H. A. Cooper described the task of defining terrorism with his quote, “a problem in the problem definition.” Even though most individuals would say that terrorism is a major problem, the majority would have different views on what terrorism actually is. Terrorism is described as being pejorative because it has negative connotations associated with the term. Is terrorism always pejorative? Most terrorist organizations today label themselves as revolutionaries, freedom fighters, or self-defense movements, and their supporters do not view their acts as terrorism. Could one country’s freedom fighter be considered a terrorist by an opposing country?

Terrorism is qualitative because it cannot be measured or weighed. The meaning of terrorism will also change as the social situation changes. Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart’s famous quote “I know it when I see it,” that originally referred to pornography, can also be applied to terrorism.

Potter Stewart

The U.S. government has numerous definitions of terrorism from the U.S. legal code, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of State and the Department of Defense. Terrorism also changes with history. Modern terrorism started during French Revolution (1789-1799), and the definition has fluctuated from describing the French government’s actions to describing the violent actions of hate groups or any violent groups independent from a state.

            Depending on the context of the act, terrorism can be defined as military force. What is the difference between military force and terrorism? During times of war, armies use commando and guerrilla warfare tactics that resemble terrorism but are never actually described as being terroristic. When conflicts exist between opposing countries, governments can label each other as terrorists and increase the backing power from their own countries. When governments are in a counterterrorist movement, civilians usually welcome harsh counterattacks and power abuse from their government, even in America. When groups are labeled as terrorists, most individuals will automatically see them as inhuman, and illegal methods of handling so-called terrorists become acceptable. I fear that America’s methods of dealing with terrorists can be considered cruel and ruthless.

One way terrorism has been defined is by “declaring war on it.” After the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, President Bush stated that America was in a war with terrorism. The US Constitution provides no reference for declaring war on a concept. Some legal scholars believe that President Bush only increased public anxiety by declaring war on terrorism. 

Walter Laqueur described terrorism as the “use of force to achieve a political objective by targeting innocent people.” Looking back on September 11, 2001, his definition seems like a fairly accurate description. The terrorist attack on 9/11 did target innocent people to attempt to gain political power. The victims often are symbolic targets to represent the main target that the terrorist group is attacking.

The author states that since conflict is inevitable between humans, most organizations are constantly at war with each other. Though peace may be the final goal, organizations are maintained by using force and coercion. According to White, accepting this assumption is the key to understanding terrorism. Conflict is normal, and terrorism is simply a form of conflict. Terrorism is not just “senseless violence;” a reason always exists for a terrorist attack whether it is for religion, economic gain, excitement, or justice.

Spectrum of Conflict

The U.S. Army created a spectrum of conflict after the Vietnam War. This spectrum ranges from normal social conflict to war of unlimited mass destruction with terrorism right in the middle.

Terrorism and Homeland Security was written for criminal justice students, law enforcement professionals and military personnel to have a better understanding of terrorism. After reading this article, I realized that terrorism is not just random violence committed by a group of people. Terrorists are usually very passionate about their cause, often so passionate that they would die for the good of their group. White described the different definitions of terrorism in a way that was informative and easy to understand. Although conflict is inevitable, hopefully America will find an effective way to deal with terrorism while keeping her humanity.