How Does the ‘Terror’ of Terrorism Function? The Nature, Process, Object and Impact of Terror

Abstract

Given the semantics and the etymological roots of terrorism, the importance given to terror and fear is hardly surprising. However, in spite of all this attention, basic questions about the nature, process, object and impact of this fear/terror remain largely unanswered. How terror or terrorism functions and plays out in the real world is open to debate and contestation. Most academicians have their own perspectives and often conflicting perceptions of terror. There is also significant confusion over how the attribute of terror and fear relates to terrorism generally. The non-existence of formal theory and conceptualization in the field of terrorism studies has further complicated and aggravated the problem. This paper is an attempt to fill this theoretical gap. It sets out to discern carefully and methodically the functioning of terror and its subsequent bearing on the phenomenon of terrorism. The findings will hopefully contribute towards ongoing efforts of theorization and conceptualization in the field of terrorism studies.