Abstract

(1) The paper explores a more concise minimal definition of political terrorism. (2) Variants of political terrorism are distinguished, the most important criterion being whether the terrorists produce a public good and thus can count on more support of their respective clientele. This criterion is used for a short differential analysis amongst several types of political terrorism. (3) Following those definitional clarifications, important data shortcomings in major data sources for analyses on international terrorism are addressed. Further errors stem from erroneous coding and from other sources. (4) A four-level general causal model distinguishing the global level, the state level, the organizational level, and the individual level is developed for research on linkages between globalization and international terrorism. Numerous theoretical linkages and various findings are addressed. (5) Given the preceding arguments, the need for much more consistent work in data collection, coding and analyses is spelled out.