Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Definition of Terrorism
Social and Political Effects
Gregor Bruce
intended to influence an audience. The FBIs demonise their opponents, civilians, political bodies
definition is the unlawful use of force or violence and religions. This happens most frequently in
against persons or property to intimidate or coerce authoritarian states but has occurred in democratic
a Government, the civilian population, or any states, an example being the use of Guantanamo
segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social Bay to sequestrate individuals from the normal legal
objectives.11 Similarly the Australian Federal Police system in the USA by defining them as terrorists.
are guided by the Criminal Code Act 1995.9 These There are many examples of perversion of definition
definitions legitimise the actions of these agencies by authoritarian states, such as the labelling of
in the counteraction and investigation of terrorism French and Greek Resistance fighters as terrorists
rather than increasing their understanding of it. by Nazi Germany and the March 2012 description
of Syrian civilians as terrorists by Syrian President
These definitions can have significant social and Bassar al Assad while they are being killed by Syrian
political implications. They can benefit society by Government agents.13
empowering effective counter-terrorism measures.
They can harm society if they allow measures that Misuse of the definition of terrorism can have far-
cross the boundaries of civil liberties. reaching social and political consequences. Political
parties and religions can be outlawed and persecuted.
Governments and Political Parties An individual who is convincingly defined as a
terrorist loses many civil rights. If they happen to
There are two reasons why politicians or governments reside in certain areas of Afghanistan or Pakistan,
will place importance on the definition of terrorism. they are at risk of being killed by a drone.
Firstly it can be used for public relations or spin
to persuade their electorate that they are taking Terrorist Groups
appropriate steps to combat terrorism and gain Unsurprisingly, terrorists definitions of terrorism
acceptance of laws or measures that are more are different from those of the remainder of society.
draconian than would be accepted for any other They prefer terms such as freedom fighter, guerrilla,
purpose. An example is President George W. Bushs insurgent and revolutionary. Richardsons comment
use of the expression War on Terrorism which on these terms has been discussed earlier.1 Hoffman14
categorises terrorists as a conventional military also describes the attempts of terrorist groups to
enemy and legitimises conventional military action evoke more acceptable images of themselves by the
rather than counter-terrorist measures which can use of favourable descriptors or definitions, e.g.
be interpreted by the US electorate as being too freedom and liberation, armies or other military
soft. The Obama administration has shifted from organisational structure, self-defence movements,
military to counter-terrorism and has since actually righteous vengeance.
been accused of being too soft.
Osama bin Laden described good and bad
Australian Federal Governments have also reassured terrorism.1 Terrorism can be commendable and
the general public regarding their efforts to it can be reprehensible. Terrifying an innocent
counteract terrorism, particularly because they are person. is objectionable and unjust, also unjustly
aware that votes will be lost if there is a perception terrorising people is not right. Whereas terrorising
that governments are doing otherwise. oppressors and criminals and thieves and robbers is
A side benefit for governments is the opportunity necessary for the safety of people and protection of
to introduce laws that are more repressive than is their property..The terrorism we practise is of the
usually the case. The laws may be directed to terrorism commendable kind for it is directed at the tyrants
but frequently are sufficiently extensive or intrusive and the aggressors and the enemies of Allah, the
to increase government power generally. Citizens are tyrants, the traitors who commit acts of treason
more accepting of the loss of individual civil rights in against their own countries and their own faith and
the name of counter-terrorism. Government abuse is their own prophet and their own nation. Terrorising
an over-reaction to terrorism and can be followed by those and punishing them are necessary measures
a backlash by citizens. One of the aims of a terrorist to straighten things and to make them right.
act is to precipitate an inappropriate reaction by There will be continuing social and political
governments.12 Truthful definitions of terrorism by consequences as long as terrorists continue to define
politicians can help reassure and educate the public themselves in these terms and act accordingly.
and preserve their civil rights. Terrorism will exist indefinitely because there
Secondly, governments and politicians can use will always be individuals and groups that get
definitions of terrorism to repress, victimise or reassurance and motivation from this type of self-
References
1. Richardson, L. 2006 What terrorists want John Murray
2. UN Ad Hoc Committee on Terrorism 2001 Informal texts of article 2 of the draft comprehensive convention
Document A/C.6/56/L.9. 2001 session of the Working Group of the Sixth Committee.
3. Head of UN Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate. 1 December 2010 Press Conference UN Website
4. White, J. R. 2012 Terrorism and homeland security (7th ed) Wadsworth
5. Laqueur, W., 1977 Terrorism London: Weidenfeld and Nicholson
6. Bjorgo, T. (Editor), Gupta, D. K., Maleckova, J., Horgan, J., Post, J., Merari, A., ( . . . ) Silke, A. 2005 Root
causes of terrorism Routledge
7. Schmid, A. P., Albert J. Jongman, A. J. 1988 Political terrorism: A new guide to actors, authors, concepts,
data bases, theories and literature New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Books
8. US Department of Homeland Security Homeland Security Act of 2002 Congress of USA
9. Australian Federal Government (1995) Criminal Code Act 1995 Part 5.3 Divisions 100-106
10. US Department of Homeland Security Homeland Security Act of 2002 Congress of USA Title 22 of the
United States Code, Section 2656f [d]
11. Federal Bureau of Investigation Reports and Publications 2005
12. Griset, P. L., Mahan, S. 2003 Terrorism in perspective Sage Publications http://www.fbi.gov/stats-
services/publications/terrorism-2002-2005
13. SBS Television 18 March 2012 World News
14. Hoffman, B. 2006 Inside terrorism (Revised edition) Columbia University Press
15. The relevance of current defence strategic policy in light of an altered international security environment
Major Adam Boyd, Australian Army 2004 Australian Department of Defence Publication http://www.
defence.gov.au/adc/docs/publications2010/PublcnsGeddes2004_300310_RelevanceofCurrent.pdf
16. Counter-Terrorism White Paper Securing Australia | Protecting Our Community 2010 Published by the
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet http://www.dsto.defence.gov.au/attachments/counter-
terrorism-white-paper.pdf
17. Arnold JL, Ortenwall P, Birnbaum ML, et al.. A proposed universal medical and public health definition
of terrorism Prehospital Disaster Medicine 2003 Apr-Jun;18(2):47-52.