Dizionario di Politica

Authors: Bobbio, Matteucci, Pasquino
Summary: This 2,000-word entry distinguishes terrorism from terror and revolution, and considers the phenomenon of international terrorism. It begins by distinguishing terrorism from terror, which it associates with the state. Terror is defined as "a particular system of rule, which is the emergency instrument to which the government resorts in order to hold power." By contrast, terrorism is defined (tendentiously) as "the instrument to which particular groups resort in order to overthrow a government that rules by means of terror." Terrorism has three fundamental characteristics: its organization, the elaboration of a clandestine strategy of civil violence; its recourse to force in order to terrorize the authorities; and a broad possibility of action.
To distinguish between terrorism and revolution, the entry considers Marx and Lenin's views on terrorism. While Marx interpreted terrorism neutrally or positively as a violent strategy for gaining power, Lenin considered it negatively, as a strategy resorted to by intellectuals distrustful of the masses. Lenin preferred the mass partisan struggle.
The entry also distinguishes between revolutionary terrorism and counter-revolutionary terrorism (better defined as fascism). Whereas revolutionary terrorism sides with the people, counter-revolutionary terrorism opposes them, and thus has a more indiscriminate aspect.
The final part of the entry points out the characteristics of international terrorism, focusing on wars of national liberation. In this context, international terrorism should not be considered an alternative of guerrilla warfare, but its precursor--that is, a sign of the growth of a popular movement.