Scholars

Thomas Nichols

Michael Bhatia

Day 1: Defining Terrorism

These videos can be used with the Day 1 lesson plan from Responding to Terrorism: Challenges for Democracy. Each of the videos provides commentary that can state answers (and additional questions) to the case studies in the lesson plan. Students might find it useful to watch the videos after reading the introduction to the lesson and before evaluating the case studies. It is also useful to compare different scholars’ views about what makes a terrorist. How might the scholars’ area of research and background influence his/her viewpoints? How do students’ education and background influence their viewpoints?

• What do you think the phrase “One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter” means? [Thomas Nichols - 1:47]
• What do you think the phrase “One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter” mean? [Michael Bhatia - 1:50]
• Can terrorists have legitimate demands? [Thomas Nichols - 2:03]