November 2025
Terrorism has myriad definitions, but not a single one on which all countries would agree. In the contemporary world, terrorism has surpassed its previous forms and manifestations, adopting the character of a global threat that encompasses the entire world. Globalization, new technologies, and their growth have become a dangerous weapon of terrorist organizations and networks, which implies an increase in their abilities. Mobility, resilience, and changes in organizational structures are enabled by the use of general social progress. We might say that terrorism is especially disastrous for a country and its society, and that it destroys fundamental social values. At the same time, on a global level, it is necessary to develop special and long-term strategies to suppress terrorism. Oscillations and differences in all parts of the globalized world have inevitably divided societies and created big cleavages within them, thus leaving a mark on the society as a whole, from which sprouted terrorism. Terrorism has changed. Nowadays, the goal of every terrorist is to create chaos, incite big doses of fear, and cause as numerous mass casualties as possible, while the space of action is unlimited and encompases wordly dimension. Defining terrorism turned out to be quite a complex task, which not only includes legal and political fields, but is also deeply rooted in social, historical, and economic structures of a society. The legal approaches ask for precision and exactness in definition, so that the law would be implemented more easily, but political definitions often leave space for interpretative flexibility, which can be subjectively abused, from the legitimization of the state power to adjusting political opponents. Through a historical analysis, we have determined that the definitions of terrorism were always susceptible to change, and that they developed in accordance with political, to the greatest extent technological, but also social changes. From the terror present in the French Revolution, through anarchist movements, all the way to the global Jihad of the 21st century, terrorism showed deep social cleavages and ended up being the response to the understanding of efficient strategies of prevention and reaction. Contrary to this, political, cultural, and social factors played a key role in the shaping of the perception of terrorism. Nowadays, the increase in the number of terrorist attacks inspired by extremist ideologies is causing global discussions on integration, multiculturalism, and security policies. Legal challenges are crucial, especially when speaking of harmonizing national laws with international rules. International cooperation is significant, but the lack of a unique definition can be a problem upon extradition, exchanging intelligence, and conducting joint operations towards a final goal, i.e., the prevention of terrorism. It is important to preserve society and its human rights and freedoms, along with ensuring that security measures do not become tools for political repression.
Politics is usually blamed for the inability to reach a unique definition, because it is closely linked with different interests of those in power, and they are thus protecting their interests in the internal and external plan, as well as in conflicts, and the least limitations are present in legal and social sciences. Terrorism has been developing since 1790, when it was named for the first time due to the development of new weapons and new communication techniques. The majority of researchers differentiate between the old and the new terrorism, whereas the difference is marked by September 11. But the similarities between the old and the new terrorism are bigger than their differences. The emergence of the internet and social media, as well as their use for propaganda, was a bigger turning point for terrorists than the use of new instruments of violence. In the essence of this past, i.e., old, and the current, i.e., new terrorism are the two same concepts, which are violence and propaganda. Violence and propaganda come hand-in-hand and have much in common. Violence has the goal to modify behaviour under coercion, while propaganda reaches the same goal with persuasion. Terrorism can be perceived as a mixture of these two. By using violence against one victim, it attempts to coerce and persuade the others as well. The direct victim is only instrumental, used to reach the calculated impact on the wider audience.
It is statistically proven that different socioeconomic, military, technological, as well as internal and external aspects of globalization harm terrorism. What is one of the recommended approaches to perfecting the definition of terrorism is the adoption of a multidimensional perspective, which includes different aspects of this phenomenon, including the political nature, psychological effects, legal implications, and various characteristics specific to terrorists. If a multi-dimensional approach were to be adopted, scientists could be able to explain different types of terrorism and their unique context, and at the same time acknowledge the subjective and politically colored nature of this phenomenon. Bearing all the previously said in mind, the general definitions the majority of researchers would possibly agree on could be that terrorism is a method and intentional use or threat of violence by an individual or an organized group against civilians, with the primary goal of inciting fear, intimidation, or coercion, for the purpose of achieving political, ideological, religious, or other goals. This definition examines political motivations that are behind terrorist acts, intentional targeting of civilians, and the psychological effects of fear and intimidation of the targeted population. Besides that, it also shows a wide spectrum of actors and contexts included in terrorism, as well as the subjective and contested nature of this phenomenon. Refining and deliberating on the definition of terrorism is the essential step towards a better understanding of this complex phenomenon. By adopting a multi-dimensional approach and acknowledging different aspects of terrorism, scientists can contribute to a colorful and comprehensive conceptualization of terrorism, which could impact the development of efficient measures against terrorism.
We face the need for a unique definition of this phenomenon that would enjoy wide international application, and thus open up a space for international operations against the current terrorist organizations. An incentive towards defining terrorism would enable special punishments against the perpetrators and those supporting terrorism, while the definition itself should complicate the existence of terrorist organizations and their acquisition of public legitimacy. Terrorism must be perceived as a term that develops depending on its historical, social, and political context. Exactly due to its complexity, defining terrorism asks for a step back from ideologically colored and legally defined approaches. Instead of that, it is necessary to focus on terrorism as a method of action, independently of the actors who conduct it, whether it be non-state or state structures. The universal definition must take into consideration the motive, and the target as well, but above all, the means and strategy of terror as the means of coercion.
Terrorism is the systemic use or threat of use of violence against civilian or symbolically significant targets, to spread fear, destabilize social structures, or coerce third parties towards political or social concessions, whereas terror is an instrument, and not the final goal per se.
As concluding remarks, it is important to mention that the fight in the field of defining terrorism is extremely difficult, as is the mere fight against terrorism itself. Defining terrorism is indeed possible because an efficient fight against this phenomenon asks for a unique, universal definition.
Author: dr Srđana Đurašević