Liberal Arts Research Professor of Political Science What is Terrorism? James A. Piazza Liberal Arts Research Professor of Political Science Penn State February 2017

Terrorism, a hard word to define [Political violence intended to influence an audience] Emotionally and politically Charged “One person’s terrorist is another person’s freedom fighter” No agreed upon legal definition for the United Nations 109 different legal definitions across countries and international organizations [according to Alex Schmid] Has changed over time

“Regime de la Terreur” French Revolution 1790s

Narodnaya Volya (“People’s Will”) Russian Anarchist Assassination of Tsar Alexander II 1881

Who are you calling a terrorist?

Soldiers?

Arrest of Eamon DeValera, post-1916 Easter Uprising

Prime Minister DeValera meeting President Kennedy

Hoffman’s Definition Terrorism is a behavior or tactic that is: 1. Ineluctably political in aims and motivations 2. Violent, or threatens violence 3. Designed to have far-reaching psychological repercussions beyond immediate victim or target 4. Conducted by organization with chain of command or conspiratorial cell structure whose members wear no uniform or identifying insignia 5. Perpetrated by a sub-national group or non-state entity Hoffman, “Inside Terrorism” p. 20

Where does terrorism occur? Rare event Terrorist “hot spots” or campaigns

Some questions or points of discussion about terrorism Is it a phenomenon or a tactic? Can anyone use it? Can states use it? What is meant by state sponsorship of terrorism? Does it have to target civilians? Is it different from hate crime? From violent contentious politics? From armed rebellion or civil war? What is the difference between domestic and foreign/transnational terrorism? Should we be afraid of it?

Thank you James Piazza Department of Political Science jap45@psu.edu