Defining Terrorism for Public Policy Purposes: The Group-Target Definition

Author: Reitan, Eric

Source: Journal of Moral Philosophy, Volume 7, Number 2, 2010 , pp. 253-278(26)

Publisher: BRILL

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Abstract:

For the sake of developing and evaluating public policy decisions aimed at combating terrorism, we need a precise public definition of terrorism that distinguishes terrorism from other forms of violence. Ordinary usage does not provide a basis for such a definition, and so it must be stipulative. I propose essentially pragmatic criteria for developing such a stipulative public definition. After noting that definitions previously proposed in the philosophical literature are inadequate based on these criteria, I propose an alternative, which I call the 'group-target' definition and which distinguishes terrorism from other forms of violence by the distinctive principle of discrimination used by terrorists to identify legitimate targets. I argue that this definition meets the criteria for a satisfactory public definition, and suggest that based on it there is good reason to suspect the adequacy of anti-terrorism policies that rely predominantly on forceful interdiction of terrorists.

Keywords: ANTI-TERRORISM POLICIES; DEFINITION; ESSENTIALLY CONTESTED CONCEPTS; IDEOLOGY; PUBLIC POLICY; TERRORISM

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/174552409X12574076813513

Publication date: 2010-02-01