Terrorism

Terrorism

What is Terrorism? Government Definitions of Terrorism

Introduction to Terrorism

Legal statutes in most countries around the world regard terrorism as a crime. Yet there is considerable variation in how these laws define terrorism, even in countries whose laws derive from a common origin.

In the United Kingdom, for example, legislation titled Terrorist Act 2000 states that terrorism is “the use or threat of action . . . designed to influence the government or to intimidate the public or a section of the public . . . for the purpose of advancing a political, religious or ideological cause.” The legal system and code of law of the United Kingdom has influenced those of the United States, Canada, and Israel.

United States federal statute defines terrorism as “violent acts or acts dangerous to human life that . . . appear to be intended (i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; (ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or (iii) to affect the conduct of a government by assassination or kidnapping.” This definition appears in United States Code, Title 18, Section 2331 (18 USC 2331).

Canada’s Anti-terrorism Act (Bill C-36) designates “terrorist activity” as “an act or omission . . . that is committed in whole or in part for a political, religious or ideological purpose, objective or cause and in whole or in part with the intention of intimidating the public, or a segment of the public, with regard to its security, including its economic security, or compelling a person, a government or a domestic or an international organization to do or to refrain from doing any act, whether the person, government or organization is inside or outside Canada . . . .”

Israeli law does not address terrorism specifically. But in the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance No. 33, it defines a terrorist organization as “a body of persons resorting in its activities to acts of violence calculated to cause death or injury to a person or to threats of such acts of violence.”” (1)

Literature Review on Understanding and Defining Terrorism

In the Encyclopedia of Public Administration and Public Policy, [1] Michael R. Ronczkowski offers the following summary about the topic of Understanding and Defining Terrorism: Terrorist activities are usually well planned, and, once committed, the organization will regroup and initiate a strategy for its next move. Just as the definition of terrorism has changed over the decades, the causes of some groups have changed with time. This affords them the opportunity to garner support from different sectors and reinvent themselves in an effort to sustain life, enlist new members, and gain financial means. Defining terrorism is extremely difficult because it changes with time and historical context.

Terrorism

Embracing mainstream international law, this section on terrorism explores the context, history and effect of the area of the law covered here.

Country Reports on Terrorism

In relation to the international law practice and Country Reports on Terrorism in this world legal Encyclopedia, please see the following section:

International Criminal Law

About this subject:

International Crimes

Under this topic, in the Encyclopedia, find out information on Terrorism. Note: there is detailed information and resources, in relation with these topics during the year 2011, covered by the entry, in this law Encyclopedia, about Country reports on terrorism

Resources

See Also

  • Social Problem
  • Crime
  • Delinquency
  • Juvenile Delinquency
  • Delinquent
  • Social Issues
  • Crime Prevention

Resources

Further Reading

  • The entry “terrorism” in the Parry and Grant Encyclopaedic Dictionary of International Law (currently, the Encyclopaedic Dictionary of International Law, 2009), Oxford University Press

Resources

Notes and References

  1. Entry about Understanding and Defining Terrorism in the Encyclopedia of Public Administration and Public Policy (2015, Routledge, Oxford, United Kingdom)

See Also

Further Reading

  • Global Encyclopedia of Public Administration, Public Policy, and Governance (2018, Springer International Publishing, Germany)

Resources

Notes and References

Guide to Terrorism

Hierarchical Display of Terrorism

Politics > Politics and public safety > Public safety > Political violence
Law > Criminal law > Criminal law > International criminal law > Extradition
Law > Justice > Judicial proceedings > Criminal procedure > Witness protection
Law > Criminal law > Offence > Crime against individuals > Illegal restraint
International Relations > Cooperation policy > Cooperation policy > Judicial cooperation
International Relations > International security > International conflict > War > Asymmetric warfare

Terrorism

Concept of Terrorism

See the dictionary definition of Terrorism.

Characteristics of Terrorism

[rtbs name=”xxx-xxx”]

Resources

Translation of Terrorism

Thesaurus of Terrorism

Politics > Politics and public safety > Public safety > Political violence > Terrorism
Law > Criminal law > Criminal law > International criminal law > Extradition > Terrorism
Law > Justice > Judicial proceedings > Criminal procedure > Witness protection > Terrorism
Law > Criminal law > Offence > Crime against individuals > Illegal restraint > Terrorism
International Relations > Cooperation policy > Cooperation policy > Judicial cooperation > Terrorism
International Relations > International security > International conflict > War > Asymmetric warfare > Terrorism

See also

  • Elimination of terrorism

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *