Glossary of Terms for Politics, War, and Crime Used in the News (download a pdf here)

BOOKMARK THIS PAGE!  Terms Used in the News is a concise reference guide designed to help readers better understand the language shaping discussions on politics, war, and crime. From headlines to expert analysis, this glossary clarifies key terms frequently used in news coverage, providing essential context for world events.

• Accelerationism – The belief that worsening societal conditions will hasten revolutionary change.
• Anarcho-Terrorism – The use of terroristic tactics to dismantle state structures.
• Anti-Colonial Struggles – Rebellions and insurrections against colonial powers (e.g., Algerian War, Mau Mau Uprising).
• Autonomy Movement – A push for regional self-governance.
• Coup d'état – A sudden and decisive seizure of governmental power.
• Communism & Marxism-Leninism – Political movements that have historically fueled revolutions and insurgencies.
• Defection – Desertion from one's country, cause, or duty.
• Dissident – A person who opposes official policy, especially in an authoritarian state.
• Domestic Extremism – Radical political movements within a country advocating for systemic change through violence.
• Ethno-Nationalism – Separatist or supremacist movements based on ethnicity.
• Fascism – Authoritarian nationalism, often leading to state-sponsored terror.
• Insurrection – A violent uprising against an authority or government.
• Mutiny – Rebellion against authority, especially in a military or naval context.
• Populism & Nationalism – Political movements that can sometimes incite insurrection.
• Proxy War – A conflict where two or more powerful actors support opposing sides, often indirectly, to achieve strategic objectives without direct confrontation.
• Rebellion – Open resistance to an established government or ruler.
• Revolutionary Vanguard – A concept from Marxism where a small elite leads a larger uprising.
• Sedition – Conduct or speech inciting rebellion against authority.
• Secession – The act of withdrawing from a nation or organization.
• Soft Power – The ability to influence others through cultural, economic, and diplomatic means rather than military force.
• State Actor – A government or its military and security forces engaged in conflict or operations.
• Subversion – Undermining the power and authority of an established system.
• Treason – Betrayal of one's country, especially by aiding enemies.
• Theocracy & Religious Extremism – Government and militant movements using religion as justification for rule or violence.
• Zionism & Anti-Zionism – Movements that have been tied to conflict, rebellion, and terrorism.

• Autonomous Weapons – Weapons systems that can select and engage targets without human intervention, raising ethical concerns about accountability and control.
• Bot Armies & Troll Farms – Automated accounts used to spread propaganda and misinformation.
• Cyber Warfare – The use of cyberattacks, such as hacking, malware, or ransomware, to disrupt, damage, or gain control over an adversary's digital systems or infrastructure.
• Deepfake – AI-generated media that manipulates images, audio, or video to create realistic but false depictions, often used in propaganda or disinformation campaigns.
• Digital Surveillance & Counter-Surveillance – Government and insurgent efforts to track or evade monitoring.
• Disinformation – False or misleading information deliberately spread to deceive or manipulate public perception.
• Dual-Use Technology – Technologies that have both civilian and military applications, such as drones or artificial intelligence.
• Electronic Warfare – The use of electromagnetic spectrum for combat, jamming signals, and cyber operations.
• Grey Zone Conflict – A type of conflict that operates below the threshold of conventional warfare, involving covert operations, economic coercion, and disinformation campaigns.
• Information Warfare – The use of information and communication technologies to manipulate, disrupt, or dominate an adversary's decision-making processes.
• Ransomware – A type of malware used in cyber warfare that encrypts an organization's data and demands payment for its release.
• Social Media Radicalization – The use of platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Telegram to recruit terrorists or insurgents.
• Space Warfare – Military operations conducted in or targeting space, including anti-satellite weapons and cyberattacks on space-based infrastructure.
• Zero-Trust Security Model – A cybersecurity approach that assumes no user or system is inherently trustworthy, requiring continuous verification to access resources.

• Arms Smuggling – The illegal flow of weapons fueling insurgencies.
• Bioweapons – Biological agents, such as viruses or bacteria, used as weapons to incapacitate or kill people, animals, or plants.
• Crypto-Terrorism – The use of cryptocurrencies to finance radical groups.
• Drug-Fueled Insurgencies – How narcotics trade funds rebellions (e.g., FARC, Taliban heroin trade).
• Extortion & Kidnapping – Criminal tactics used by insurgents and terrorist groups to generate funding.
• Human Trafficking & Terrorism – The use of forced labor and sexual exploitation to fund operations.
• Mafia & Cartels – Criminal organizations that engage in insurrection-like behavior.
• Money Laundering for Terrorism – Financial networks that fund rebellion and terror.
• Piracy & Maritime Terrorism – Groups like Somali pirates engaging in paramilitary tactics.

• Asymmetrical Warfare – A form of conflict where one side uses unconventional tactics to exploit the vulnerabilities of a more powerful adversary.
• Collateral Damage – Unintended harm or destruction caused to civilians or civilian property during a military operation.
• Counterinsurgency (COIN) – A set of military, political, and economic strategies aimed at defeating insurgencies and winning the support of local populations.
• Guerrilla Warfare – A form of irregular warfare in which small, mobile groups use tactics like ambushes, sabotage, and hit-and-run attacks to challenge a larger, conventional force.
• Hybrid Warfare – A blend of conventional and unconventional tactics, including military force, cyber operations, and information warfare, to achieve strategic objectives.
• Improvised Explosive Device (IED) – A homemade bomb often used by insurgents and non-state actors to target military or civilian personnel.
• Insurgency – A rebellion or uprising by non-state actors against a government or occupying force, often using asymmetrical tactics.