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strategies to seize the power in the context of internal conflicts or revolutions,
leading to considerable social and political changes if successful. This form
of violence is often the main instrument of revolution…”
The article “Defining International Terrorism: Pragmatic Approach” by
Thomas Badey (2003) cites definitions given by various authors. He particu-
larly concentrates upon the definition of terrorism given by Professor Alex
Schmidt, who in his turn rests upon over 50 authors. Badey reiterates
Schmidt’s definition, saying “Terrorism is a form of repeated violence which
has as its aim to create disorder and anxiety in the society. It may be used
both by governments and the (semi-)illegal groups, either for criminal or po-
litical goals. However unlike the assassination, the target of terrorism is not
the actual victim of the attack. Although most often the direct target of terror-
ism is random, sometimes it may be symbolic; representing a specific social,
political or any other group- in this case the terrorist attack carries a special
message to the given group.” According to the author, there is a special com-
munication process (based on violence) between the terrorist organization,
the victim and the indirect target (the society). The goal of terrorist attack is
to manipulate the indirect target either by seeding panic, or by representing
its group in the preferable light, depending whether the goal of terrorism is
coercion or propaganda. 
After discussing definitions of terrorism with different authors, we can
single out three important criteria, by which any violent action can be quali-
fied as terrorism: 1. the nature of the action; 2. the direct target; 3. the goals
of the action- namely, nature of terrorism is always violent, thus any form of
non-violent protest (peaceful demonstrations, strikes, etc.) should not be con-
sidered as terrorism. (Ganor, 2008). The direct target of terrorist attack, as it
was already noted, is chosen indiscriminately, or sometimes symbolically- as
a representative of a given group or society. According to Boaz Ganor (2008)
goals of terrorism are always political i.e. the regime-change, changing au-
thorities or the social-economic politics, etc. According to the author, the vi-
olent action having no political interests in mind should be considered as a
criminal act, not terrorism. The author also notes that some authors name
ideological and religious goals besides the political ones… however the con-
cept of “political interests” is broad enough to include both the religious and
the ideological concepts. Finally the author concludes, that the ideological or
religious motivations lying behind the political interests do not make much
difference in determining the concept of terrorism. 
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History of Terrorism
The origins of terrorism are quite hard to determine, however one thing
is clear: “, in some respects, that what is today known as terrorism predates
by millennia the modern term used to describe it.  This is not to say that the
act of terrorism has remained static” (Burgess, 2003). Acording to the author,
the problems connected with defining the term demonstrate how much
terrorism has changed its form during the centuries- even if retaining some
of its main characteristics. 
Origins of terrorism go back to antique times. According to most
scholars, the fisrs recorded fact of terrorist attack took place in ancient Judea.
” Among the earliest such examples were the Sicari and the Zealots, Jewish
groups active during the Roman occupation of the first century Middle East”
(Burgess, 2003). As a rule, the assassinations  organized by these groups took
place in a crouded place to serve as a signal to the Romans and those who
supported them- ” a tactic that would also be used by subsequent generations
of what would become known as terrorists”(Burgess, 2003).
The ancient forms of terrorism also was common in India and the mus-
lim world (shortly after Muhammed died). According to Mark Burgess (2003)
in the 11th century the Shia muslim sect, named Ismailis/Assasines
ruthelessly punished those political and religious figures who refused to
accept a new, purified version of Islam. ”The Assassins’ deeds were carried
out at religious sites on holy days – a tactic intended to publicize their cause
and incite others to it.  Like many religiously inspired terrorists today, they
also viewed their deaths on such operations as sacrificial and a guarantor
that they would enter paradise.”(Burgess, 2003). According to James Wilson
(2004) Ismailis should be considered as first terrorists for two reasons: ”
They did not seek simply to change rulers through murder but to replace a so-
cial system by changing an allegedly corrupt Sunni regime into a supposedly
ideal Shiite one.” (Wilson, 2004). At the same time, according to the author,
the only weapon Assassins used during the attack was a dagger, “that made
their capture and execution, often after gruesome torture, inevitable.” While
surviving was considered to be a great shame for the attacker. 
One ancient form of terrorism was developed in India from the 7th to
the 19th centuries. ”Sacrifice was also a central element of the killings carried
out by the Thugees … who ritually strangled their victims (usually travelers
chosen at random) as an offering to the Hindu goddess of terror and destruc-
tion, Kali.  In this case, the intent was to terrify the victim (a vital considera-
tion in the Thugee ritual) rather than influence any external
audience.”(Burgess, 2003).  The Thugees must have murdered approximately
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