TERRORISM. The numerous definitions of terrorism generally agree
that it involves the threat or use of violence, often against the civilian
population, to achieve political or social ends, to intimidate oppo-
nents, or to publicize grievances. Terrorism employs myriad activi-
ties such as assassinations, random killings, hijackings, and bomb-
ings. Once used for political purposes mostly by groups too weak to
mount open assaults, it is now increasingly becoming a tactic of
choice for the alienated or those with deep grievances. Some govern-
ments have also used political terrorism to eliminate the opposition
or as an effort to overthrow another regime. In addition, terrorist at-
tacks are also now a common tactic in guerrilla warfare. Because of
its indiscriminate nature, terrorism has a vast psychological impact,
amplified by extensive media coverage.
International terrorism reaches back to ancient times and has oc-
curred throughout history. The term dates from the Reign of Terror
(1793–1794) that followed the 1789 French Revolution, but in the
post–World War IIera, terrorism has generally been associated with
such violent groups as the Italian Red Brigades, the Irish Republican
Army (IRA), the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Peru’s Shin-
ing Path, Sri Lanka’s Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, and the weath-
ermen and some members of U.S. “militia” organizations. Religiously
inspired terrorism also has a long pedigree, dating back to biblical times.
Its modern manifestations include such diverse groups as the extremist
Muslims associated with Hamas, Osama bin Laden’s al Qai’da, and
other organizations; extremist Sikhs in India; and Japan’s Aum Shin-
rikyo, which released nerve gas in Tokyo’s subway system in 1995. The
terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, the Madrid, Spain, bombings
in March 2004, the downing of the Russian airliners in August 2004,
and the 2005 London bombings have set a new level of violence in
international terrorism. Experts worry that the potential use of biologi-
cal, chemical, radiological, or nuclear weapons of mass destruction may
elevate the psychological impact of international terrorism even further.
In 1999, the United Nations Security Council unanimously called for
better international cooperation in fighting terrorism and asked govern-
ments not to aid terrorists. However, international cooperation and the
use of the military in the struggle against terrorism has had only mixed
results, in part because some key governments have little at stake in
eradicating terrorism and in part because the general strategy ignores theTERRORISM• 20105-398 (2) Dictionary.qxd 10/20/05 6:27 AM Page 201