AN EVALUATION ON THE CONCEPTS OF TERROR AND TERRORISM

Abstract

Since the 19th century, in which the foundations of the modern world were laid, the concept of terror has increasingly occupied the world public opinion. Terror, an ancient concept in terms of meaning and content, which became a device used by separatist groups to achieve their goals after the French Revolution, has evolved into terrorism with its change in the century in question. In essence, terror is a concept that emphasizes violence and fear, while terrorism is a concept that includes more intricate and complex issues. When we look at the definitions of these two concepts, it is seen that they are actually intertwined and mutually inclusive. However, although the nature of terror and the arguments it uses have changed over time, its devastating consequences for humanity have reached higher levels with its form that has turned into terrorism. For this reason, although serious efforts have been made since the 1930s to establish a common definition of terrorism, no success has been achieved.   In this context, the primary aim of this study is to examine the definitions of the concepts of terror and terrorism in the literature and to reveal their similarities and differences. In this way, it will be evaluated whether it is possible to make a common definition, and if not, what are the obstacles in front of it, through the existing literature.