Understanding State Terrorism

Abstract

In this chapter we examine the frequently neglected issue of the use of terrorist violence by states. It begins with a discussion of why state terrorism has remained largely unstudied within the broader terrorism studies field, and some of the ideological consequences of this silence. The next section offers a definition of state terrorism. It demonstrates how certain forms of state violence clearly fit the definition of terrorism and interrogates some of the most common arguments that have been used against the concept. This is followed by a brief overview of the nature and extent of state terrorism over the past two centuries and some examples of contemporary state terrorism. This overview reveals that state terrorism is a far more serious and destructive form of political violence than non-state terrorism. The final section analyses the reasons why states employ terrorism, as well as the main actors, methods and outcomes of state terrorism. In the conclusion, we reflect on the implications of including forms of state violence within the study of terrorism and try to suggest a way forward for further exploration of this important issue.KeywordsPolitical ViolenceState ViolenceTruth CommissionState TerrorismDeath SquadThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.