To explain terrorism is not an easy task.
There are many definitions of terrorism, but I believe that it basically means to terrorize. The actions of someone or group of people working together to conduct violent actions that will install fear in the minds of the people, community, or nation to achieve power or political change. There are many definitions explaining terrorism but the question is, which one fits your needs or thoughts?Bruce Hoffman defines terrorism as a deliberate creation and exploitation of fear through violence or the threat of violence in the pursuit of political change. Through the publicity generated by their violence, terrorist seek to obtain the leverage, influence and power they other wise lack to effect political change on either a local or international scale. (Hoffman 23) Hoffman continues explaining that there are over one hundred definitions of terrorism, all which depend on thought of ideas, history, or political agenda.
He does make it clear that there is no one definition that is accepted. Egbal Ahmad sees the definition of terrorism as not being examined enough. Ahmad sees all these definitions of terrorism as a way of stirring up emotions in the mind of the people. Ahmad points out that most people don’t look at the reasons why people resort to terrorism.
He believes that one must understand why there is terrorism before one can learn how to stop it. He also states that most people don’t take into consideration how emotions play a large role on how terrorism starts. Therefore, how does one define terrorism. He finally explains how would a group of people feel if they had an allies for years, then one day your allies become your enemy.
I believe that there is a little validity in every definition of terrorism but no correct answer. Hoffaman’s definition, to me, is more of a political definition that applies to the needs of the department. Ahmad’s definition leans towards how one can fix the problems with terrorism before defining it. I favor both definitions because one compliments the other.
