1. The Problem with Defining ‘Terrorism’
By: Carter Benson

2. Outline
Thesis: The word “terrorism” is too broad and morally loaded to be used in ontology
Freedom fighter or Terrorist
Etymology
Definitions and their problems
Possible revisions to the definition and their problems
Proposed Alternative to Terrorism Language

3. What Conflict is This? Sovereign country x invades sovereign country y
Country x quickly overwhelms the military of country y
Civilians from a small town in country y take up arms and hide in the dense forests outside of the small town
Civilians of country y begin to use terrorist acts in an attempt to push country x out

5. Freedom Fighter or Terrorist?
What makes the Wolverines freedom fighters and other rebel forces terrorists?
Nationality?
Religion?
Ethnicity?
Cause?
Type of violence?

6. Establishing the Legitimacy of Governments
Democracy vs Dictatorship
Red Dawn: North Korea invades US
Real life: US invades Iraq
The Kingdom of Jordan
The US considers The Kingdom of Jordan to be an ally
The US would consider a rebel attack on Jordan to be “terrorism”
The legitimacy of Government does not determine who is identified as terrorists

7. Etymology of the Word Terrorism
1795: in specific sense of "government intimidation during the Reign of Terror in France" (March 1793-July 1794), from French terrorisme, from Latin terror
1798: General sense of "systematic use of terror as a policy" is first recorded in English
1883: At one time, a word for a certain kind of mass- destruction terrorism was dynamitism
World War I: frightfulness (translating German Schrecklichkeit) was used in Britain for "deliberate policy of terrorizing enemy non-combatants“
Etymology.com

8. Merriam Webster Dictionary’s Definition of Terrorism
Simple definition: the use of violent acts to frighten the people in an area as a way of trying to achieve a political goal.
Full definition: the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion
Terror: violence that is committed by a person, group, or government in order to frighten people and achieve a political goal
*Terrorism is in the top 10% of words searched
"Terrorism." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 02 May 2016.

9. Definition Endorsed by Georg Meggle
Terrorism as described by Fromkin in 1975
Terrorism is violence used in order to create fear: but it is aimed at creating fear in order that the fear, in turn, will lead someone else to embark on some quite different program of action that will accomplish whatever it is the terrorist desire.
Terrorism as described by Igor Primoratz
Terrorism is [best defined as] the deliberate use of violence, or threat of its use, against innocent people, with the aim of intimidating some people into a course of action they otherwise would not take
Meggle, Georg. "What Is Terrorism?" (2006): n. pag. Web.

10. The Innocence-Condition
Model of Innocence-Condition: Children
Meant to exclude “legitimate targets of violence,” such as
Members of armed forces and security services
Suppliers of arms and ammunition
Political officials directly involved in the conflict
Assassination is considered terrorism by some other definitions

11. Problem for the United States
It seems as though the United States is a prime practitioner of “terrorism”
Recent Bombing of hospital in Afghanistan
Torture techniques (Ex. Abu Ghraib)
Nagasaki and Hiroshima
Treatment of Native Americans and Relocation (Trail of Tears)
Definition includes most war acts

12. State Terrorism
There is an urge to say that states cannot do terroristic acts
After all, the United States is not considered a terrorist organization

13. What Constitutes a State?
Weak account of statehood:
Ability to tax and a monopoly on violence

14. Islamic State of Iraq and Syria
Grey – Controlled by ISIS
Green – Syrian Opposition
Peach – Syrian Government
Pink – Iraqi Government
Orange – Lebanese Government
Blue – Controlled by Hezbolla
White – Controlled by Al-Nusra
Yellow – Syrian Kurdistan
Dark Yellow – Iraqi Kurdistan

15. Boko Haram

16. What Constitutes a State?
Strong account of statehood:
Recognized by members of the United Nations as a state

17. Recognition of Israel’s Statehood

18. Proposed Alternative to Terrorism Language
We can capture the idea of “terrorist” with alternative language, like
Religious Extremist
Cartel Member
Separatist
We can capture the idea of “terrorist act” with alternative language of their actions, like
Mass shooting
Suicide bombing

19. Osama Bin Laden before and after 1989
Pre-1989: Bin Laden was considered to be a freedom fighter because he was fighting the USSR
Post-1989: Bin Laden was considered to be a terrorist because he was fighting against the US

20. Conclusion Current definitions are too broad to be used in Ontology
Attempts to revise the definition will be problematic
Alternative language can be used to make up the gap left by excluding the term “terrorism”

21. “Definitions [of terrorism] are not generally agreed upon – with even the possibility and utility of such definitions being denied; instead real or imagined T- cases are used to deliver the most efficient means for the justification for nearly everything – for almost everything which, without there Terrorism-Threats, could not have been justified at all or at least not so easily. To name you a terrorist is not just to make you an outlaw, it is to excommunicate you from the human race.” - Georg Meggle

22. Thank you for listening
Questions?