terrorism

What is the US State Department's definition of terrorism?

Premeditated, politically motivated violence against noncombatants by subnational groups.

What does Schmid (1985) highlight in most definitions of terrorism?

Most definitions highlight violence and political goals.

According to Weinberg (2010), how has the definition of terrorism shifted?

Toward political motivations and publicity, not just psychological impact.

What does Bruce Hoffman say terrorism is about?

Deliberate fear used to influence broader audiences.

Who said “Terror is nothing but prompt, severe, inflexible justice”?

Robespierre.

Why did the Jacobins use terror?

To consolidate revolutionary ideology and suppress counter-revolutionaries.

What was a key symbolic tool of the Jacobin terror?

The guillotine, used for theatrical and public executions.

Who wrote “Milestones” and became a martyr for Islamic radicalism?

Sayyid Qutb.

What is jahiliyyah?

A state of ignorance before the revelation of Islam, according to Qutb.

What event discredited Arab nationalism in 1967?

The Six-Day War.

What two major 1979 events influenced radical Islam?

The Iranian Revolution and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

Why is there no universal legal definition of terrorism (Raflik)?

Because of political disagreements and differing views on resistance movements.

What 1937 legal effort to define terrorism failed?

The League of Nations Convention.

What tension does Raflik highlight in legal definitions?

Distinguishing terrorism from legitimate resistance.

What triggered the 1986 US bombing of Libya?

The Berlin disco bombing, blamed on Libyan agents.

What policy shift did Reagan’s counter-terrorism represent?

A move toward unilateral, preemptive military strikes.

What legal doctrine justified the Libya bombing?

Self-defense against state-sponsored terrorism.

What happened during the Entebbe crisis (1976)?

Israeli forces rescued hostages from a hijacked plane in Uganda.

Why was Germany’s response to Entebbe sensitive?

Because of its Nazi past and contemporary RAF terrorism.

What did the Entebbe crisis reveal about the UN?

A lack of consensus and tension between sovereignty and counter-terrorism.

What are the four waves of modern terrorism (Rapoport)?

Anarchist, Anti-colonial, New Left, Religious.

What tactic defined 19th-century anarchist terrorism?

Propaganda by deed — assassinations and bombings.

Why is media crucial in modern terrorism?

It amplifies the psychological impact and spreads fear widely.

How did Al-Qaeda use media?

To recruit, radicalize, and provoke global reactions.

What does “theatre of terror” refer to?

Symbolic acts of violence designed for global audiences.

What publication spread Al-Qaeda ideology to lone actors?

Inspire magazine.

What made Al-Qaeda’s structure effective?

Decentralization combined with shared ideology and communication.

What was the goal of 9/11 beyond physical destruction?

To send a message and provoke a large-scale U.S. response.