When attempting to define or conceptualize the word “terrorism” it is important to distinguish the broad underlying philosophical, ideological, and legal precepts supporting these different definitions and conceptualizations. Historically, law enforcement and counterterrorism agencies have tended to focus on peculiar inherent qualities of the perpetrators who engage in domestic terrorism. It viewed domestic terrorists as Americans attacking other Americans predicated on American-based extremists’ ideologies. However, this sort of reasoning contains an inherent ambiguity. Some scholars posit that one of the key factors likely to encourage future terrorism is the lack of a clearly agreed upon definition of the term terrorism.
Explain the issues regarding the definition and conceptualization of terrorism.
What do you think are the inherent ambiguity issues that the FBI has in defining domestic terrorism? Why is that so, and how might they be clarified?
