--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The commonly accepted definition of…" description: "\"The commonly accepted definition of terrorism is that it is politically motivated violence directed at civilians by entities other than a state. These ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56b/peter-bergen-1880_come_the-commonly-accepted-definition-of-terr_697023.png" --- # The commonly accepted definition of terrorism is that it… ![“The commonly accepted definition of terrorism is that it is politically motivated violence directed at civilians by entities other than a state. These kind of attacks can come from the far right, the far left, racists of every stripe, as well as jihadists.” quote by Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56b/peter-bergen-1880_come_the-commonly-accepted-definition-of-terr_697023.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56b/peter-bergen-1880_come_the-commonly-accepted-definition-of-terr_697023.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56b/peter-bergen-1880_come_the-commonly-accepted-definition-of-terr_697023.png) > “The commonly accepted definition of terrorism is that it is politically motivated violence directed at civilians by entities other than a state. These kind of attacks can come from the far right, the far left, racists of every stripe, as well as jihadists.” [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Terrorism is violent acts by non‑state groups targeting civilians for political aims, regardless of ideology. **In simple terms:** Violent political attacks by non‑state groups. Key Takeaway Recognize all ideological sources of terrorism. Themes politics violence ideology security society Mood serious analytical Type informative critical When to use this quote - policy making - law enforcement - community education - media reporting Key Concepts radicalization state legitimacy civilian protection Questions to Reflect On - How do we differentiate political protest from terrorism? - What policies best prevent radicalization? A Different Perspective Complex motives can blur lines between protest and terrorism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Terrorism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorism/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) ## Related quotes > [What's the definition of terrorism? It's to achieve an objective through the use of force and fear. These are just nasty, evil, disgusting human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/what-s-the-definition-of-terrorism-it-s-to-achieve-an-objective/) [Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) > [We still lack a global definition of terrorism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gijs-de-vries/we-still-lack-a-global-definition-of-terrorism/) [Gijs de Vries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gijs-de-vries/) > [The definition of terrorism is killing civilians with the intent of changing their political affiliation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caleb-carr/the-definition-of-terrorism-is-killing-civilians-with-the-intent-of/) [Caleb Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caleb-carr/) > [Large numbers have been punished on the basis of a broad and vague definition of terrorism and a worryingly low threshold of evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/large-numbers-have-been-punished-on-the-basis-of-a-broad-and-vague/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [We face an essential need to reach a definition of terrorism that will enjoy wide international agreement, thus enabling international operations against terrorist organizations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boaz-ganor/we-face-an-essential-need-to-reach-a-definition-of-terrorism-that/) Boaz Ganor > [The definition of terrorism has to be more precise, so that we are able to discriminate between, for example, what it is that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/the-definition-of-terrorism-has-to-be-more-precise-so-that-we-are/) [Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/) > [There is no definition of terrorism and there is still the reality that one person's terrorist is another person's freedom fighter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumi-naidoo/there-is-no-definition-of-terrorism-and-there-is-still-the-reality/) [Kumi Naidoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumi-naidoo/) > [“After the tragedy of Las Vegas sad incident... Definition of terrorism has got two meanings now, If done by a Muslim, IT IS AN…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usman-aman/after-the-tragedy-of-las-vegas-sad-incident-definition-of-terrorism/) [Usman Aman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/usman-aman/) > [The Russians have been waging wars with these separatists since the 19th century, but for obvious reasons, Chechen separatist terrorism tends to be carried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/the-russians-have-been-waging-wars-with-these-separatists-since-the/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [The mishandling of the would-be airplane bomber Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab's visa is only the latest piece of evidence that the granting of visas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/the-mishandling-of-the-would-be-airplane-bomber-umar-farouk-abdul/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [If Pakistan claims to be a crucial partner in the international coalition against terrorism, how can it continue to use terrorism as an instrument…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atal-bihari-vajpayee/if-pakistan-claims-to-be-a-crucial-partner-in-the-international/) [Atal Bihari Vajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atal-bihari-vajpayee/) > [The link between intimate violence in the home and the international violence of terrorism and war is as tightly bound together as the fingers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riane-eisler/the-link-between-intimate-violence-in-the-home-and-the-international/) [Riane Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riane-eisler/) > [India has a consistent and well-known position on terrorism. We oppose all acts of terrorism, wherever they occur. We have repeatedly said that no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atal-bihari-vajpayee/india-has-a-consistent-and-well-known-position-on-terrorism-we-oppose/) [Atal Bihari Vajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atal-bihari-vajpayee/) > [Terrorism is the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/terrorism-is-the-unlawful-use-of-force-or-violence-against-persons-or/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Much of what I saw in Geneva really disillusioned me about how my government functions and what its impact is in the world. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/much-of-what-i-saw-in-geneva-really-disillusioned-me-about-how-my/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) ## More by Peter Bergen > [So Pakistan is a country that I'm very fond of and have spent a lot of time, but it is a country where conspiracy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/so-pakistan-is-a-country-that-i-m-very-fond-of-and-have-spent-a-lot/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [The Trump administration launched the cruise missile strikes in Syria, an act of war, without a U.N. resolution or Congressional authorization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/the-trump-administration-launched-the-cruise-missile-strikes-in-syria/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [The deep problems that afflict the Middle East are not easy to fix, but they must be dealt with if we are not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/the-deep-problems-that-afflict-the-middle-east-are-not-easy-to-fix/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [The dirty little secret of the intelligence world is that much of what you really need to know isn't exactly a secret anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/the-dirty-little-secret-of-the-intelligence-world-is-that-much-of/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [Abedi appears to be one of the many thousands of Western Muslims who have embraced militant Islam, often as a way of trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/abedi-appears-to-be-one-of-the-many-thousands-of-western-muslims-who/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [Trump has claimed he knows more about ISIS than America's leading generals. 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