This chapter will enable readers to do the following:

1. Explain the importance of identifying the common characteristics of extremism and understanding the world view of extremist adherents.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of the common features of formal definitions of terrorism.
3. Discuss whether violence should be classified as terrorism by recognizing the contextual perspectives of perpetrators and participants in terrorist environments.
4. Apply the Political Violence Matrix as a conceptual tool to interpret the quality of violence.