If It Looks Like Terrorism, Feels Like Terrorism, Acts Like Terrorism, Then It Probably is Terrorism

This article traces an academician’s transformation with respect to conceptualizing the concept of terrorism. The journey begins with a look back at the education necessary for entrance into the environment of academe. From inside its ivory tower walls, we see the ways that academia treats someone with real experiences gained from dealing directly with terrorism. The September 11, 2001 attacks unlike the 1979 Iranian Revolution bring new interest in the concept of terrorism. But within the academic community, old ways are hard to shake. This forces the academician to go outside the academy to make positions know. Armed with support from Polish and Ukrainian colleagues, the academician’s transformation in conceptualizing terrorism using abductive reasoning is finalized.