A Formula of Terrorism?

Abstract

Terrorism as a sociological phenomenon is one almost every mature adult considers they possess an accurate understanding of, yet a universally accepted definition continues to elude the field. After over a decade of perhaps the most intense scrutiny a subject of human effort has received in the recorded history of academic inquiry, the shadow of terrorism remains elusive and attempts to capture it under the search lights of intellectual discourse remain for all intents and purposes essentially futile. The following article, however, will not seek to explore the definitional nature of terrorism by engaging in this perennial political debate by traditional means. Rather, given the dearth of “consensus” the written word has achieved, discussion to follow will conduct new theoretical research endeavoring to apolitically discern terrorism's true scientific nature for perhaps the first time through objective, albeit theoretical, formulaic inquisition.

KEYWORDS:

• Terrorism
• counterterrorism
• warfare classifications
• definitional contestations
• criminality