‘Civil Terrorism’ Is a Dangerous Category Error

In our polarized era, there are fewer and fewer spaces where people who disagree can do so productively and in good faith. The Dispatch’s Debate Series aims to be an outlier: a regular feature where two writers with opposing views can hash out some of the thorniest political and cultural issues roiling the national conversation. If you have an idea for a future topic, please let us know at debates@thedispatch.com. Turn any article into a podcast. Upgrade now to start listening. Members can share articles with friends & family to bypass the paywall. Defining exactly what constitutes a terrorist act continues to be maddeningly elusive to terrorism experts, international organizations, and legislators across the globe. One reason remains the impulse, by democratic and authoritarian countries alike, to redefine political dissent and low-level criminality as terrorism. Matthew Harwood is vice president of communications at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. His opinions are his own. Read the Counterpoint To Protect Legitimate Speech, Get Serious About Penalizing Civil Terrorism