There are many definitions of terrorism because different countries experience acts of terrorism in various and distinct ways. In the US, terrorism relates to actions of extremist groups like Al-Qaeda, and any individual who engages in these activities is considered a terrorist (Wilkinson, 2016). However, in other parts of the world, there are violent groups that are constantly fighting for natural resources, and these can be referred to as terrorist activities in their respective countries. Based on the differences by which various UN members experience disorder and national threats, it is difficult to have a definition that is acceptable to all members. Such a situation arises because all the countries would want a definition that clearly outlines the dangers that they face regularly. Some of the common causes of violent activities in countries across the world include political, religious or ideological reasons (Aven & Guikema, 2015). In all of these instances, it is common for an extreme level of violence to be used, often leading to the damage of property and loss of lives. The problem arises when the definition of terrorism is linked to a particular cause, such as religious reasons, which locks out countries that face other types of threats, such as political. In my view, terrorism should be defined as engaging in violent activities with the intention of disrupting peace and causing harm, to send a particular message. Elements of this definition include; having a message, violent activities, and inflicting harm. All terrorist groups will engage in various types of violent activities, such as assassinations, bombings, and shootings. They will also strive to cause harm by damaging property and killing people. Finally, the main objective of terrorist groups is to send a message, mostly to a government. Such a definition is wholesome and covers all types of terrorist activities.
References
Aven, T., & Guikema, S. (2015). On the concept and definition of terrorism risk. Risk
analysis , 35 (12), 2162-2171.
Wilkinson, P. (2016). Political terrorism . Macmillan International Higher Education.
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