What is Terrorism?

Abstract

The “war against terror” remains one of the most difficult challenges for criminal law, as it takes the rule of law to its constitutional limits. Eleven years after 9/11, we see that these events have led to modifications of the general structure of security laws worldwide and also in Germany. National laws have not only been extended to address modern phenotypes of terrorism and the financing of terrorism but have also been expanded to catch foreign and international organizations. Fighting terrorism can only be successful with global cooperation. The papers in this special issue were presented at the International Forum on Crime and Criminal Law in the Global Era in Beijing, and should thus be seen as part of the German-Chinese dialogue on criminal matters. As the question of how German legislation and jurisprudence react to the challenges connected to the fight against international terrorism stretch far beyond this dialogue, a special issue of the German Law Journal seems to be the perfect forum to address a wider global audience.