Steven Best & Anthony J. Nocella, II

'There has never been any consensus definition of terrorism.'
-Richard Betts, director of the Institute of War and Peace Studies, Columbia University

Everyone uses the term, but who really understands it? What precisely is terrorism? What causes it? Who engages in it? Should terrorists be identified according to their intentions, ideologies, tactics, or targets?

When is violence justified so that it is not 'terrorism'? How is terrorism different from assault, murder, and other violent 'criminal' acts? How can one distinguish morally culpable terrorists from legitimate guerillas, insurgents, counter-terrorists, or freedom fighters? ');