[[Week 1 Definition of Terrorism]] https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/14648849211017003 ![[14648849211017003.pdf]] - Terrorism is a highly politicalised term, it has power. - Social Identity Theory - ‘part of an individual’s self-concept [. . .] derives from his knowledge of his membership of a social group (or groups) together with the emotional significance attached to that membership.’ (Tajfel, 1974: 69) - Me being part of a group is "In group" vs those who are not part of the group "out group" - In group members are perceived to be more positive then out-group members. - There is no agreed upon consensus definition of terrorism. - Can it even be defined objectively at all? - Jackson (2007: 247) argues that terrorism is not some- thing we can measure, but a pejorative label used to convey ‘political judgement about the legitimacy of actors and their actions.’ - Terrorism not simply defined based on cultural, social and political sentiments, but also used strategically to advance political agendas - "governments may not only define terrorism in line with prevailing cultural, social and political sentiments, for example by more often designating Islamist extremists as terrorists. They also strategically use the term to condemn specific forms of political violence and advance political agendas." - Journalists maybe influenced by Social Identity Theory; they perceive that they are threatened by "out-group". - Perpetrator Characteristics - If it is lone actor, islamist, - Location of Attacks - attack on western countries are considered as a bigger threat, activate the in vs out group mentality. How journalist perceive victim as similar to them. -