Terrorism Definition Debate

This cluster revolves around debates on whether specific acts qualify as terrorism, focusing on definitions involving political motives, violence against civilians, and distinctions from crime, with frequent references to Wikipedia and critiques of subjective usage.

➡️ Stable 0.6x Politics & Society
3,270
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#2549
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

2007
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2011
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2012
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2013
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2014
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2015
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2016
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2017
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2018
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2019
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2020
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2021
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2022
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2026
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Keywords

e.g OK FUD ANC PW i.e EDIT CEO wikipedia.org terrorism terrorist terror political violence civilians definition religious state terrorists

Sample Comments

dreamfactory Dec 9, 2013 View on HN

You are describing any terrorism here.

pavel_lishin May 12, 2017 View on HN

What qualifies this as "terrorism"?

nabla9 Nov 12, 2019 View on HN

This is not terrorism by any definition. Terrorism must have political agenda. It's political violence against non-combatants.

hedora Oct 7, 2022 View on HN

I guess someone redefined terrorism then.

unimpressive Aug 27, 2013 View on HN

Did they ever have any?"Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, often violent, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no legally binding, criminal law definition.[1][2] Common definitions of terrorism refer only to those violent acts which are intended to create fear (terror); are perpetrated for a religious, political, or ideological goal; and deliberately target or disregard the safety of non-combatants (civilians). Some definitions

mtmail Oct 10, 2017 View on HN

Not at all. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrorism

IfOnlyYouKnew Jan 9, 2020 View on HN

At the time when libertarian lunatics figure out how to convince enough people to change the accepted meaning of the word "terrorism"?I mean... you obviously don't like this, and many people agree, on very reasonable grounds. But it just is not terrorism.It's sort of how boiled mushrooms are not "death", even though I have equal affinity to both concepts.

wooter Jun 22, 2014 View on HN

"type of terrorism"what makes your example "terrorism" and not "crime"?

philipwhiuk Sep 2, 2025 View on HN

Terrorism is basically "whatever the government at the time doesn't like" anyway

6nf Dec 26, 2020 View on HN

Sure but that’s not ‘terrorism’ under most definitions