Defining Terrorism

Schmid

Where did the term ‘terrorism’ originate from?

The term 'terrorism' originated from the French Revolution, specifically from the period known as the "Reign of Terror" (1793-1794), during which the government employed violence and fear to suppress dissent.

What are the four different typologies of terrorism?

Perpetrator-centred, methods and tactics-centred, motive-centered, location-centred

What are Perpetrator-centred typologies?

Regime repressive state terrorism, non-state terrorism, anarchist terrorism, revolutionary terrorism, etc.

What are Methods and tactics-centred typologies?

These typologies categorize terrorism based on the techniques used, such as bombings, assassinations, or cyber attacks, emphasizing the operational methods employed by terrorist groups.

What are Motive-centred typologies?

These typologies classify terrorism based on the underlying motivations for the acts, such as ideological, political, religious, or social objectives that drive terrorist behaviour.

What are location-centred typologies?

These typologies categorize terrorism based on the geographic areas where acts occur, such as domestic, transnational, or international terrorism.

What is a key difference between terrorism and some other forms of political violence?

The victim of violence is generally not the ultimate target of the terrorist threat. Terrorism often aims to instill fear in a broader audience, influencing political or social change, rather than focusing solely on direct conflict with an enemy.

Ben Saul defined terrorism with what five points?

1. Any serious, violent, criminal act intended to cause death or serious bodily injury, or to endanger life, including by acts against property;

2. where committed outside an armed conflict;

3. for a political, ideological, religious, or ethnic purpose; and

4. where intended to create extreme fear in a person, group, or the general public, and:

   1. seriously intimidate a population or part of a population, or

   2. unduly compel a government or an international organisation to do or to abstain from doing any act

5. Advocacy, protest, dissent, or industrial action which is not intended to cause death, serious bodily harm, or serious risk to public health or safety does not constitute a terrorist act.