Defining Terrorism: Types, Features, and Strategies

This article discusses the difficulty in defining terrorism, the four major types of terrorism, and the two strategies to tackle terrorism. It also provides examples and references.

Running head: DEFINING TERRORISM
DEFINING TERRORISM
Name of the student
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Author note

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DEFINING TERRORISM
Answer to question 1:
Terrorism in not a new phenomenon and the Americans has felt its impact during the
attacks of September 11, 2001. It was one of the biggest terrorist attacks in the history of the U.S
and the world and yet the term ‘terrorism’ is difficult to define even today (Open.lib.umn.edu, p.
31). Defining terrorism has always been a topic of contention for scholars for ages because as the
saying goes, “one person’s freedom fighter is another person’s terrorist”. Several definitions of
terrorism have come up over the years but most refer to the three essential features that
somewhat define terrorism. These features include, 1) using violence; 2) sole purpose of making
people terrified and 3) the yearning to change the social, political, economic and cultural
establishment. However, these features do not accumulate to defining terrorism because many
examples from the past prove that terrorism cannot be defined. The British considered the
revolutionaries who fought for freedom from the British in Northern Ireland and in India as well
as terrorists. Even the 9/11 attackers were hailed by many as heroes fighting for a cause.
Answer to question 2:
Although terrorism is difficult to define, scholars and sociologists have distinguished
terrorism into four major types- vigilante terrorism, insurgent terrorism, transnational terrorism
and state terrorism (Open.lib.umn.edu, pp. 32-33).
Private Citizens mostly commit vigilante terrorism against other private citizens and its
motivations often include race, ethnicity, religion, or hatred of some kind. Examples of this type
of terrorism may include the atrocities of the Ku Klux Klan against the black people and the
white Europeans against the Native Americans.

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DEFINING TERRORISM
When private citizens commit terrorism against their own governments, institutions or
businesses that represent ‘establishment’, it is referred to as insurgent terrorism. The American
Revolution, the labor violence committed post Civil War are some examples of insurgent
terrorism.
Transnational terrorism refers to the terrorism committed by citizens of one country
against another country. The 9/11 attack is the most visible example of transnational terrorism. It
is one of the most common forms of terrorism affecting countries across the globe.
The terrorism that is meant to scare the citizens of own country by the government is
known as state terrorism. Mass murder, assassinations, torture and other atrocities against own
citizens might be included in this type of terrorism. Genocide is an example of state terrorism.
Answer to question 3:
Post the 9/11 attack, law enforcements have been made stronger to tackle terrorism.
Known also as a military approach, law enforcement involves capturing notorious terrorists and
destroying their camps and facilities. Although this strategy has been able to weaken terrorist
activities, the terrorist groups worldwide have succeeded in resisting this strategy
(Open.lib.umn.edu, p. 39). In fact, law enforcement strategy has resulted in instigating terrorist
groups further to carry out more deadly attacks.
The second strategy is structural reform that seeks to identify the structural roots of
terrorism and uproot it. Supporters of this strategy claim that terrorism can be reduced by
eliminating the very reasons and conditions that give rise to it (Open.lib.umn.edu, p. 40). The
strategy has been recognized by reformers worldwide as being the most effective tool to uproot

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terrorism. However, the efficiency of this strategy remains a matter of contention because
terrorist activities are carried out even today in various parts of the world.

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DEFINING TERRORISM
References:
Open.lib.umn.edu. "Chapter 16: War And Terrorism | Social Problems: Continuity And Change".
Open.Lib.Umn.Edu, 2018, http://open.lib.umn.edu/socialproblems/part/chapter-16-war-and-
terrorism/. Accessed 29 Aug 2018.