Divergent Interpretations of the Concept of “Terrorism” in Domestic and Foreign Academic Literature

The article examines the problem of defining the concepts of “terrorism” and “international terrorism” in aca-demic and legal literature. It analyzes the approaches of scholars from various disciplines ‒ sociology, conflict studies, and international law ‒ to the interpretation of terrorism as a social and legal phenomenon. Particular attention is given to the evolution of the understanding of terrorism in Soviet and post-Soviet Russian scholar-ship, including ideological aspects and normative-legal interpretations. The article explores debates on the re-lationship between domestic and international terrorism, as well as the challenges of developing a universal definition. Based on a comparative analysis of Russian and foreign sources, it highlights the difficulties in con-structing a typology of terrorism, which stem from political contexts and interdisciplinary disagreements. The study draws on a wide range of research and offers a critical perspective on the prospects for using the term “international terrorism” in academic and political discourse. It is emphasized that the lack of a universally ac-cepted definition continues to hinder effective counter-terrorism strategies and international cooperation.