# Terrorism **Domain:** Political Violence / Security Studies / Law **Doc Type:** Canonical Concept Node **Maturity:** Foundational ## Definition **Terrorism** generally refers to violence, threats or coercive acts intended to intimidate a broader audience or compel political, ideological or social behavior. Legal definitions differ by jurisdiction and purpose. ## Structural Context The immediate victim and the intended audience may be different. Harm to a particular person or place can function as a message designed to alter the behavior of everyone observing it. ## Evidence Boundary The term carries legal and moral consequences. Similarity in method or psychological effect does not by itself establish that an event meets a particular criminal statute or official designation. ## See Also [[wiki/Cyber Terrorism|Cyber Terrorism]], [[wiki/Transnational Repression|Transnational Repression]], [[wiki/National Security|National Security]]