Review of False Analogies - Essay Example

The use of the word terrorism to refer to an individual who attacks large populations that hold an opposing ideal with the aim of gaining retribution or influence by imposing fear into them is a false analogy.

Terror does not really need the involvement of the government as argued in this definition. What terrorism can be used to refer to is a situation when someone creates terror by the use of coercion. They are acts that intend to create fear with intended goals. Terrorism does not have to be political violence only; there are terrorist acts that are economically charged. The terrorist at this point wants to instill fear for no political reasons. Quasi-terrorism for instance lacks the essential ingredient of terrorism. The terrorist has no intentions of creating terror for the victim but uses the techniques of genuine terrorism to instill fear into the victim (Rodin).

 What this definition is trying to tell us is that the government is not the sole reason for terrorism, to instill fear into the state. The act does also need really call for revenge on any previous acts that were done to the terrorist as the definition indicates.