Problem
Inside Terrorism, Hoffman discusses the definition of terrorism within a historical context. In the end, we are left with the notion that there may be "no widely accepted or agreed-upon definition of terrorism." However, he mentions that, "if we cannot define terrorism, then we can at least usefully distinguish it from other types of violence and identify the characteristics that make terrorism the distinct phenomenon of political violence that it is."
Based on the information presented, what do you believe are distinguishing characteristics of terrorism and why?
Are any of the characteristics you identified, historic characteristics of terrorism (in other words, are they common to terrorism today, as well as throughout history)?