This senior seminar will consider rival definitions of terrorism. We will try to identify the differences among the definitions and will assess what is at stake politically and morally in the differences among rival definitions. Then the course will examine particular situations in which terrorism has featured prominently, including Northern Ireland and the Mideast. Finally, we will consider what it means for the U.S. to wage a "war on terrorism." What does that mean in terms of American priorities and what follows internationally and domestically from declaring terrorism as the foremost threat to American security? Format: seminar. Requirements: readings, class presentation, and research paper. Prerequisites: Political Science 202 or Political Science 204. Enrollment limit: 15 (expected: 15). Preference given to senior political science majors with concentration in comparative politics or international relations. International Relations and Comparative Subfields