Pronunciation: 'ter-&r-"i-z&m
Function: noun
Date: 1795
: the systematic use of terror especially as a
means of coercion
- ter·ror·ist /-&r-ist/
adjective or noun
- ter·ror·is·tic /"ter-&r-'is-tik/
adjective
terrorism: "...the systematic use of terror
or unpredictable violence against governments,
publics, or individuals to attain a political
objective. Terrorism has been used by political
organizations with both rightist and leftist objectives,
by nationalistic and ethnic groups, by revolutionaries,
and by the armies and secret police of governments
themselves."
Terrorism is defined in the U.S. by the Code
of Federal Regulations as: "..the unlawful
use of force and violence against persons or property
to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian
population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance
of political or social objectives." (28 C.F.R.
Section 0.85)
The FBI further describes terrorism as either
domestic or international, depending on the origin,
base, and objectives of the terrorists:
Domestic terrorism is the unlawful use,
or threatened use, of force or violence by a group
or individual based and operating entirely within
the United States or its territories without foreign
direction committed against persons or property
to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian
population, or any segment therof, in furtherance
of political or social objectives.
International terrorism involves violects
acts dangerous to human life that are a violation
of the criminal laws of the United States or any
stae, or that would be a criminal violation if
committed within the jurisdiction of the United
States or any state. These acts appear to be intended
to intimidate or coerce a civilian population,
influence the policy of a government by intimidation
or coercion, or affect the conduct of a government
by assassination or kidnapping. International
terrorist acts occur outside the United States
or transcend national boundaries in terms of the
means by which they are accomplished, the persons
they appear indended to coerce or intimidate,
or the locale in which the perpetrations operate
or seek asylum.
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