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Definition of Terrorism Social and Political Effects Review Articles Definition of Terrorism Social and Political Effects Gregor Bruce Introduction using the key words of “terrorism” and “definition”. Social structure and order, governance of society United Nations and politics are dependent on good communication, and good communication requires agreement on Terrorism is international. The command and control definitions of terminology. Terrorism can dramatically of terrorist groups, the recruitment, training, active influence the world, as shown by the far-reaching operations and the target audience can all be located and prolonged effects of the attacks in New York on in different countries and so counter-terrorist 11th September 2001. The definition of terrorism measures will not be effective unless all nations will affect communication and response to this issue cooperate in agreeing to the characteristics of and so have consequences for society and politics. terrorist groups and their activities. Agreement on a However a suitable universal definition remains common definition would be a step towards universal elusive because different bodies, organisations and cooperation in the prevention of terrorism. The UN government agencies have different definitions to unsuccessfully attempted to get universal agreement suit their own particular role, purpose or bias. after the 1972 Munich Olympic massacre. Some nations, particularly in Africa, Asia and the Middle Methodology East, were unwilling to label groups as terrorists if they sympathised with their aims, because of the A broad internet literature search was performed by perjorative aspects of the label. The West has also entering key words in widely used internet search sympathised with groups which have committed engines such as Google and Yahoo. Key words used terrorist activities. The Reagan administration were “terrorism” (plus derivatives such as “terror”, supported the Nicaraguan Contras and there was “terrorist, etc)” and “definition” (plus derivatives such Western support for the African National Congress as “define”, “defining”, etc). This revealed a large in South Africa in the mid-1980s when their actions number of internet references but the vast majority were terrorist. A universal definition will define were published for purposes other than improvement terrorism irrespective of the aims of the group. As in knowledge or for scientific research. Most were stated by Louise Richardson.1 “The legitimacy or the publications of political organisations across the otherwise of the goals being sought (by a group) full spectrum from left to right, pressure groups, should be irrelevant to whether a group is (defined as) lobby groups, “think tanks” with a biased point of a terrorist group” and “so a terrorist is not a freedom view, commercial organisations and “journalists” or fighter and a terrorist is not a guerrilla. A terrorist is “researchers” expressing a pre-conceived point of a terrorist, no matter whether or not you like the goal view. Often the information presented was second or s/he is trying to achieve, no matter whether or not third hand and had been altered to suit the bias of the you like the government s/he is trying to change”. author. All but a few were rejected. Separating truth from disinformation is a hazard when researching Nonetheless, the UN has struggled to provide a terrorism. definition that is accepted by all nations. In 2001 it adopted the International Convention for the Organisations, governments, national states and Suppression of Terrorist Bombings even though other bodies that have social and political influence they were unable to define the word “terrorist”. were searched through the internet and classical The Convention only covered one very small aspect texts on the topic of terrorism in order to examine of terrorism. The UN2 produced an interim draft their definitions of terrorism and how these definition in 2001. It down-plays political justification definitions affect their social and political influence. and lists acts of violence as terrorism if they are These searches were performed during January and “resulting or likely to result in major economic loss, February 2012. when the purpose of the conduct, by its nature or context, is to intimidate a population, or to compel A search of the printed literature was performed with a Government or an international organisation to the assistance of the Charles Sturt University Library Page 26 Journal of Military and Veterans’ Health Review Articles do or abstain from doing any act.” In 2007 they Legal Profession were shifting to a consensus academic definition. The legal profession desires a definition that can be On 1 December 2010 the Head of the UN Counter- used for the successful prosecution and conviction Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate said that of accused terrorists. Defence or an appeal by “the fact that there was not a universal definition of an accused terrorist is easier if the crimes are terrorism presented a challenge”.3 ambiguously defined. Badey,as quoted by White4 agreed that “nations are Prosecutions in the US can be under the Homeland hampered by an inability to define and criminalise Security Act of 2002.8 This Act emphasises the danger terrorism” and this remains a problem in achieving to human life, covers the critical infrastructure and trans-national counter-terrorism. key resources, but also includes the psychological and political aspects. Academic Research Terrorism is covered by the “Criminal Code Act Researchers and academic students of terrorism 1995 Part 5.3 Divisions 100-106 pp 95-126” of desire the intellectual discipline of a definition to the Australian Federal Government9 and defines enable focussing on a specified topic. This would terrorism (groups and individuals) for the purpose of facilitate communication between researchers, their prevention, investigation and criminal prosecution. organisations and their contribution to society’s It is primarily legalistic but does acknowledge the counter-terrorism measures if they are using psychological, social and political aims of such common language and definitions. Most academic groups. Members of the group that planned a definitions emphasise the combination of violence, suicide attack on Holsworthy Army Barracks were politics, sociology and psychology. The threat of prosecuted and convicted under anti-terrorism violence is included as well as actual violence. legislation. Walter Laqueur5 uses the simple, broad definition Prosecutors in Australia and overseas can have “terrorism is the illegitimate use of force to achieve a more success using conventional charges under political objective by targeting innocent people”. the criminal code because of the imprecision of the Tore Bjorgo6 states “terrorism is a set of methods legal definition of terrorism, particularly if a violent of combat rather than an identifiable ideology or terrorist act has taken place, whereas anti-terrorist movement, and involves premeditated use of violence legislation becomes more relevant if there is a threat against (primarily) non-combatants in order to of violence or if the terrorist act is still in the planning achieve a psychological effect of fear on others than stage. the immediate targets.” Accurate legal definition of terrorism is important Fernando Reinares (cited on p.120 in reference 6) for society and for governance to enable successful distinguishes three traits that define terrorism for investigation and prosecution of terrorists within the the purpose of academic study. Firstly, it is an act of established judicial system. violence that produces widespread disproportionate emotional reactions such as fear and anxiety which Law Enforcement and Counter-Terrorist Agencies are likely to influence attitudes and behaviour. Law enforcement agencies involved in counter- Secondly, the violence is systemic and rather terrorism and intelligence (e.g. FBI, Special Branch unpredictable and is usually directed against of Scotland Yard, Australian Federal Police Counter- symbolic targets. Thirdly, the violence conveys Terrorism) need definitions of terrorism as guidelines messages and threats in order to communicate and for their task and legal endorsement for duties which gain social control. are close to (and sometimes over) the boundaries A very useful guide to academic thought is the of civil liberty. Consequently their definitions have study by Schmid and Jongman7 referred to by many more emphasis on actions and criminality than authors (e.g. Hoffman, White, Richardson, Bjorgo) motivation and psychology so that the investigation which examined 109 definitions and found 22 of individuals and groups can be justified more frequently used “definitional elements” (Table 1). on the basis of their activities rather than their presumed motives. Actual acts of terrorist violence Agreement on definitions of terrorism will assist the are emphasised above the threats of the violence. research and study which may progress to counter measures for the benefit of democratic governments The US State Department10 describes terrorism and society. as “premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against non-combatant targets by sub- national groups or clandestine agents, usually Volume 21 Number 2; May 2013 Page 27 Review Articles intended to influence an audience”. The FBI’s 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
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