Its the purpose...not the degree of violence

Submitted by ger (Australia), Nov 3, 2014 at 11:12

I think a simple definition that works is terrorism is the use of violence for political and ideological purposes.

Violence can range from stabbing, throwing rocks to firing rockets and it is invariably for political and ideological purposes...eg establish secession, establish state/ independence. Its not the degree of violence that matters so much, rather the purpose.

This differentiates it from crime...which may also involve the use of violence but for non political, non ideological personal benefit eg stealing money at gunpoint, executing a rival gang member

Rape can thus be terrorism or just a crime.

If it is use for ideological purposes eg ISIS raping all Yazidi women... it is terrorism.

If it is someone, mugging and raping a jogger for example...just for lust....its a crime.

Just as premeditation and planning differentiates between manslaughter and murder.

the absence or presence of political /ideological motivations differentiate between crime and terrorism.

First we establish its terrorism and then we can calibrate response whether to rock throwing ...or rocket firing.

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