ABSTRACT
Terrorism is essentially a contested concept. The aim of this chapter is to examine the concept of terrorism and explain the existence of the orthodox understanding of terrorism or orthodox terrorism theory. This theory, I suggest, is the principal paradigm and rational positivist approach used – primarily by state governments – to explain political violence. It is essentially a theoretical explanation and understanding of terrorism that is employed to suit hegemonic, liberal or other agendas, while keeping a distinction firmly in place that does not allow for a creeping legitimation of terrorist tactics agendas. It is, I suggest, a discourse based on the legitimacy/illegitimacy dualism that constructs non-state violence as terrorist while state violence is deemed to be legitimate. It is also a subjective understanding of political violence that professes to explain the act of violence from the perspectives of both the instigator and the recipient of the violence.
